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Jules Bianchi Funeral Held in Nice

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Jules Bianchi’s funeral is being held in his hometown of Nice, France, as tributes to the Formula 1 driver continue to be paid.

Family, friends and fellow drivers are attending the service at Nice’s cathedral while his fans gathered outside.

Jules Bianchi, 25, died on July 17 from result of head injuries in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.

His car number, 17, is being retired from F1 in his honor.Jules Bianchi funeral 2015

Jules Bianchi had been in a coma since crashing his Marussia car into a recovery vehicle at a rain-hit race last October.

He is the first F1 driver to die from injuries sustained in a grand prix since Brazilian triple world champion Ayrton Senna was killed at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.

Tributes are expected to be paid at Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend.

A number of Formula 1 colleagues travelled to Nice to pay their respects on July 21. Large posters of Jules Bianchi were draped outside the cathedral entrance.

Announcing his death on July 18, Jules Bianchi’s family said: “Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end.”

The Marussia team, now known as Manor, said Jules Bianchi had left an “indelible mark on all our lives”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjM_EiXqz4w

Toshiba CEO Hisao Tanaka Resigns over Accounting Scandal

Toshiba CEO and President Hisao Tanaka has resigned after the company said it had overstated its profits for the past six years.

Hisao Tanaka will be succeeded by chairman Masashi Muromachi, with vice-chairman Norio Sasaki also stepping down.

On July 20, an independent panel appointed by Toshiba said the company had overstated its operating profit by a total of 151.8 billion yen ($1.22 billion).

The overstatement was roughly triple an initial Toshiba estimate.

“It has been revealed that there has been inappropriate accounting going on for a long time, and we deeply apologize for causing this serious trouble for shareholders and other stakeholders,” Toshiba said in a statement.

“Because of this Hisao Tanaka, our company president, and Norio Sasaki, our company’s vice chairman… will resign today.”

Hisao Tanaka, 64, and Norio Sasaki, 66, both joined Toshiba in the early 1970s.Hisao Tanaka Toshiba accounting scandal

Norio Sasaki served as Toshiba president between June 2009 and June 2013, covering most of the period during which the company inflated the profits.

Toshiba’s accounting scandal began when securities regulators uncovered problems as they probed the company’s balance sheet earlier this year.

The findings mean Toshiba will have to restate its profits for the period between April 2008 and March 2014. It is unclear whether it will affect the company’s results for the year ending March 2015.

Japan’s finance minister, Taro Aso, said the case could undermine confidence in corporate governance in the country.

Taro Aso added the accounting irregularities at Toshiba were “very regrettable”.

Japan’s government has been trying to regain global investors’ confidence with better corporate governance after Olympus, was found to have covered up $1.7 billion in losses in late 2011, in what was until now Japan’s worst corporate governance scandal.

The report’s findings are expected to lead to the restatement of earnings, a board overhaul and potentially hefty fines for Toshiba.

The inquiry found that the misreporting of profits began after the financial crash seven years ago, when senior managers began imposing unrealistic performance targets.

“Within Toshiba, there was a corporate culture in which one could not go against the wishes of superiors,” the report said.

“Therefore, when top management presented <<challenges>>, division presidents, line managers and employees below them continually carried out inappropriate accounting practices to meet targets in line with the wishes of their superiors.”

Hisao Tanaka and his predecessor Norio Sasaki are among eight high-level executives who have now resigned after the independent report found senior management complicit in a scheme to inflate profits over several years.

Regulators are believed to be starting their own review of Toshiba’s book-keeping, based on Monday’s report.

Shares in Toshiba rose 6% on the Nikkei stock exchange in Japan on relief that the report had few nasty surprises. But they are still down around 23% since Toshiba first disclosed cases of accounting irregularities in early April.

IBM Revenue Falls for 13th Consecutive Quarter

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IBM’s sales dropped for the 13th consecutive quarter, the world’s largest technology services company has reported.

According to the company, revenue fell 13.5% to $20.8 billion, while net profit fell 17% to $3.5 billion.

The strong US dollar and IBM’s decision to move away from its hardware business to focus on higher-margin operations both hit its performance.

CEO Ginni Rometty said that the second-quarter results reflected the company’s ongoing transformation.IBM revenue falls July 2015

“We continue to transform our business to higher value and return value to shareholders,” she said.

US sales fell 8%, while European, Middle East and African sales dropped 17%.

However, its worst performance was in Brazil, Russia, India and China where sales fell 35%.

IBM said much of the fall was due to the impact of the strong US dollar and the sale of its System x business. Excluding that unit, sales were down by just 18%.

In contrast, IBM said revenues from its new areas of focus – cloud computing, analytics and engagement – had risen by more than 20% this year.

IBM shares fell 4.9% in after-hours trading in New York.

They closed at $173.25, valuing the company at almost $170 billion.

Greece Repays €2.05 Billion Arrears to IMF

Greece has cleared overdue debt repayments of €2.05 billion to the IMF and is no longer in arrears, the creditor has confirmed.

The repayments, and another for €4.2 billion to the European Central Bank (ECB) due on Monday, came after the EU made Greece a short-term loan of €7 billion.

Greece missed one repayment to the IMF in June and another earlier this month.

Earlier on Monday, Greek banks reopened after being closed for three weeks.

However, many restrictions remain and Greeks are facing price rises with an increase in VAT.Greece IMF repayments July 2015

IMF spokesman Gerry Rice confirmed in a statement that Greece had repaid the totality of its arrears.

“As we have said, the fund stands ready to continue assisting Greece in its efforts to return to financial stability and growth,” he said.

Greece missed its first repayment to the IMF on June 30 and another on July 13 during deadlock over negotiations for a third bailout.

The crisis brought Greece to the brink of economic collapse and an exit from the euro.

The Greek government has since reached a cash-for-reforms deal with its creditors and negotiations are due to begin on the proposed €86 billion rescue package.

For the past three weeks, Greeks have been waiting in line at cash machines to withdraw a maximum of €60 a day, a restriction imposed amid fear of a run on the banks.

From July 20, the daily limit becomes a weekly one capped at €420, meaning Greeks will not have to queue every day.

However, a block on transfers to foreign banks and a ban on cashing cheques remain in place.

VAT is rising from 13% to 23% meaning Greeks will pay more on a range of goods and services, including taxis and restaurants.

The rise was among a package of reforms demanded by Greece’s creditors.

PM Alexis Tsipras faced a rebellion from within his left-wing Syriza party over the tough austerity measures being demanded by other eurozone leaders, who are among Greece’s creditors.

He has since replaced his rebel ministers but analysts say his government has been weakened and fresh elections may be held in September or October.

The Greek parliament is due to hold a second vote on July 22 on measures including justice and banking reforms. The government is again likely to scrape through, supported by opposition parties.

Representatives from Greece’s creditors – known as the Troika – are due to arrive in the country soon and talks on the new bailout are expected to last about a month.

The eurozone is currently managed by the Eurogroup, made up of the finance ministers of each nation.

Josh Greenberg Dead: Grooveshark Co-Founder Dies Aged 28

Josh Greenberg, the co-founder of recently-shut down music streaming website Grooveshark, has been found dead in his Florida home, local police have said.

Josh Greenberg, who was aged 28, created Grooveshark in 2006.

According to Gainesville police, there was “no evidence of foul play or suicide”.

Grooveshark closed in April this year following years of legal action from several record labels.Josh Greenberg dead at 28

A US court had determined that the site could be liable for $736 million in damages after it was judged to have willfully breached copyright when building the service’s music library.

In closing the site, its owners posted a statement, which read: “Despite [the] best of intentions, we made very serious mistakes. We failed to secure licenses from rights holders for the vast amount of music on the service.

“That was wrong. We apologize. Without reservation.”

Josh Greenberg’s mother Lori told the Gainesville Sun newspaper that her son had been in good spirits.

“He was excited about potential new things that he was going to start,” Lori Greenberg said, adding that she did not believe he had any health concerns.

At the company’s peak, the newspaper said, Grooveshark employed 145 people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvpEZHF4MGI

Ant-Man Tops US Box Office in Its Opening Weekend

Marvel’s Ant-Man has topped the North American box office, earning $58 million in its first weekend on release.

Ant-Man, which stars Paul Rudd as a thief who is recruited to become a shrinking action hero, bumped Minions off the top of the box office chart.

The movie’s first weekend takings were lower than for other major Marvel films like Captain America and Iron Man.

Photo Imdb
Photo IMDb

Ant-Man’s $130 million budget was also smaller than most Marvel blockbusters.

Minions made $50.2 million between Friday and Sunday, putting it in second place, according to studio estimates.

Romantic comedy Trainwreck, written by and starring Amy Schumer, exceeded expectations to earn $30.2 million and third place.

Pixar’s Inside Out was at No 4 with $11.6 million, closely followed by Jurassic World, with $11.4 million.

That made the dinosaur thriller only the fourth movie in history to have made more than $600 million at North American box offices, behind Avatar, Titanic and Avengers Assemble.

How a Significant Other Can Be A Significant Financial Partner

If you are married or are in a long term relationship, you have the potential to get your financial life in order like never before. Most of us don’t start out in the best of financial shape. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t improve with time – sometimes by many orders of magnitude! Some couples share financial responsibilities, but others do not. Traditionally, one member was an earner, the other the manager. Sometimes one person performed both of these roles. But if you want to maximize your long term financial potential as a couple, you’ve both got to be involved and invested. There are many financial incentives for married people. These aren’t reason enough to get hitched if you otherwise don’t want to. But if you are married, there’s no reason not to take advantage of these laws. For the rest of us, here’s how a long term relationship can be leveraged to improve both partners’ financial lives.

  • Housing. Housing is one of the biggest expenses you’ll pay over the course of your life. Wouldn’t it be great if you could reduce it? Well, you can. If you and your partner can manage to buy a home together, you’re likely to accrue wealth much faster than if you remained renters. Houses tend to increase in value by 4-5% per year. Also, through the equity process, you pay yourselves every month, not some landlord. Furthermore, your annual taxes may be written off and mortgage loan interest rates are subsidized to be lower than any other loan you could possibly get. Add to this the ability to secure cheap financing by borrowing against your home’s equity in the future, and you have a veritable wealth building machine, all made even more accessible through partnered finances.
  • Investment. If you clicked the link above, you understand marriage favors long term investment, even if one partner is not working. For short term investment, platforms like Forex allow you to see big returns in the shorter term. com provides many educational opportunities, in order to try your hand at this form of investment before you actually risk any real money. By planning your investment life together, in the short and long term, you can help ensure that you and your partner grow your wealth throughout your relationship.
  • Daily Spending. Through joint budgeting and general frugality, you and your partner can make sure you are living well beneath your means. This way, you won’t have to work endlessly to fund a lifestyle you have no time to enjoy. The average American couple wastes a lot of money. By organizing your spending behaviors, you’ll have a much better chance of achieving a sustainable and enjoyable lifestyle in the long term.

As you can see, relationships make it easier to get one’s finances in order. It just helps to have someone on your side, an extra hand to help figure some of this stuff out. It might take years to really see progress, but with steady work and good communication, you guys will figure it out.

Van Alexander Dies of Heart Failure Aged 100

Bandleader, conductor and author Van Alexander has died at the age of 100.

According to Variety, Van Alexander died of heart failure on July 19 in a Los Angeles hospital.

Van Alexander played an important role in Ella Fitzgerald’s career, co-writing her first big hit, the nursery rhyme-inspired A-Tisket, A-Tasket, in 1938.

He went on to write and arrange music for Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie and The Dean Martin Show.

Born Alexander Van Vliet Feldman in New York in May 1915, he was taught to play the piano by mother, a classical pianist.Van Alexander dead at 100

Hired to write arrangements for Chick Webb’s big band orchestra, he went on to form his own band in the late 1930s.

After moving to California in 1943, Van Alexander found a new outlet in underscoring – the provision of background music for film and TV productions.

His work on Mickey Rooney’s TV show led him to compose music for a number of the actor’s movies, among them 1957’s Baby Face Nelson.

In the 1970s, Van Alexander was nominated for three Emmys for his work on such TV variety shows as Gene Kelly’s Wonderful World of Girls.

Van Alexander won a lifetime achievement award in 2002 from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

His 100th birthday was marked in May by a celebration attended by more than 200 family members and friends, at which he said his “wonderful life” had been “blessed”.

Van Alexander, whose wife Beth died in 2010, is survived by two daughters, four grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Suruc Attack: At Least 28 People Killed in Turkey Border Explosion

At least 28 people have been killed and nearly 100 others wounded in a bomb attack in the Turkish town of Suruc, across the border from the Syrian town of Kobane.

The explosion may have been caused by a female suicide attacker, officials say.

The blast targeted a group of young people who planned to travel to Kobane to assist with rebuilding. Kobane has seen heavy fighting between ISIS militants and Kurdish fighters.

Turkish authorities believe ISIS may be responsible for the attack.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned the bombing and described it as “an act of terror”.Turkey Suruc attack

Suruc houses many refugees who have fled the fighting in Kobane.

ISIS overran the Syrian town in September last year, but it was retaken by Kurdish forces in January.

The Federation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF) is reported to have had at least 300 members staying at the Amara Culture Centre in Suruc, where the explosion happened.

A photo taken earlier in the day showed members of the group relaxing in the garden.

A video released on social media apparently showed the moment of the blast.

In the video, a group of young people are chanting slogans while holding the federation’s flags and a large banner with the words: “We defended it together, we are building it together.”

Then an explosion rips through the assembled youngsters.

Images of the aftermath show bodies littering the ground, with the red flags being used to cover them.

A statement from the Turkish interior ministry said: “We call on everyone to stand together and remain calm in the face of this terrorist attack which targets the unity of our country.”

The hashtags #SuruçtaKatliamVar (There is a massacre in Suruç) and #SuruçMassacre started trending on Twitter soon after the explosion.

Infographic: How to Organise your Office

In business organization is key, to ensure you, your business, and your employees are working effectively. The idea that ‘A clean desk is a sign of a sick mind’ could not be further from the truth. Organisation shows structure, coordination, and good management. Below is an infographic which covers exactly how you can make sure your office is organized, and everything is in it’s correct place. There are also some helpful tips to help you along the way.

It’s an infographic, it can be viewed here:

How to Organise your Office | Kelly's Storage

An infographic brought to you by www.kellystorage.co.uk

Edenilson Valle: Man Drowned in Demi Moore’s Pool

A 21-year-old man has drowned in a pool at Demi Moore’s Los Angeles home, according to new reports.

The actress has expressed “absolute shock” after the accident.

Edenilson Steven Valle’s body was found floating in the pool on July 19.

Demi Moore, 52, who was away at the time, said this was an “unthinkable tragedy”.

Edenilson Valle is believed to have been a member of the household staff. Relatives reportedly told investigators he could not swim.Man Drowned in Demi Moore's Pool

It is thought he may have fallen into the pool during a party.

Demi Moore said in a statement: “My heart goes out to this young man’s family and friends.”

Los Angeles County coroner’s Fred Corral said Edenilson Valle, had been missing for 10 or 15 minutes before his friends found him floating in the deep end of the pool early on Sunday morning.

Emergency crews were called to the house in the city’s Beverly Crest neighborhood. Paramedics treated the man but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Demi Moore bought the house together with her former husband Ashton Kutcher.

Mick Fanning Attacked by Shark at J-Bay Open

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Australian surf champion Mick Fanning was attacked by a shark in South African waters while he was competing at an event in Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape on July 19.

Mick Fanning’s mother watched “terrified” on live TV as her son was attacked by the shark.

The 34-year-old surfer punched and kicked the shark and was soon rescued by a jet-ski.

“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I thought we’d lost him,” Mick Fanning’s mother, Elizabeth Osborne, told ABC News.

“I was absolutely terrified. I went over to the television almost as though I could pull him out… to save him,” she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from her home on Australia’s Gold Coast.

Elizabeth Osborne had already lost a son to a car crash 17 years ago and she said those memories came back to her.Mick Fanning shark attack J Bay Open

“When Sean was killed in the car accident, I didn’t see it,” she said.

“I saw this just in front of me. It was just terrible.”

Mick Fanning, the defending champion at the tournament and a three-time world champion, escaped without any injuries.

“I was just sitting there and I felt something just get stuck in my leg rope, and I was kicking trying to get it away,” he told Fox Sports.

“I just saw fins. I was waiting for the teeth.”

Mick Fanning said he was able to “get a punch into its back” and startle the shark.

The World Surf League (WSL), which organized the J-Bay Open, said two shark were seen in the water near Mick Fanning and another competitor, Julian Wilson, also from Australia.

The two surfers are rivals but also friends and Julian Wilson paddled towards Mick Fanning to help him.

Julian Wilson was emotional afterwards telling the Sydney Morning Herald that he felt as if he couldn’t get to Mick Fanning quickly enough.

“It came up and he was wrestling it, and I saw he got knocked off his board,” the surfer said.

“I was like, <<I’ve got a board, if I can get there I can stab it or whatever, I’ve got a weapon>>.”

Julian Wilson’s mother was also watching on TV and told reporters: “I don’t know if he’s crazy or a hero.”

The commentators said it was the first time they had seen a shark attack a competitor during an event, according to the Herald. The WSL cancelled the tournament after the incident.

“Mick’s composure and quick acting in the face of a terrifying situation was nothing short of heroic and the rapid response of our Water Safety personnel was commendable,” it said in a statement.

Reuters says the waters are some of the most shark-infested in the world, and that a surfer was killed by a Great White shark close to Jeffreys Bay in 2013.

Psy Car Accident: Gangnam Style Singer’s Car Crashes in China

Gangnam Style singer Psy was reportedly involved in a car crash in Hangzhou, Eastern China, on Thursday, July 16.

The accident occurred at 3PM local time, according to China’s People’s Daily Online.

Photo Weibo
Photo Weibo

The South Korean musician, known for hits like Gangnam Style, Gentleman and Hangover, was in a red Rolls Royce that collided with a bus at an intersection.

Psy was said to be on his way from an airport to a hotel.

No one was injured in the accident, and Psy left the scene in a Porsche that had been clearing the way for the Rolls Royce, People’s Daily Online says.

According to the Daily Mail, both parties involved are settling compensation and repairs privately following the accident.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB-auooCUXY

Greek Banks Reopen After Three Weeks of Closures

Banks in Greece are reopening after three weeks of closures sparked by the deadlock over the country’s debt.

Greece reached a cash-for-reforms deal aimed at avoiding a debt default and an exit from the eurozone.

However, many restrictions remain, including a block on money transfers abroad, and Greeks also face price rises with an increase in Value Added Tax (VAT).

Meanwhile, Germany has said it is prepared to consider further debt concessions to Greece.

Queues at ATMs have been a feature of life in Greece for weeks, with people waiting in line each day to withdraw a maximum of €60 a day, a restriction imposed amid fears of a run on banks.

From July 20, the daily limit becomes a weekly one, capped at €420, meaning Greeks will not have to queue every day.

While banks throwing open their doors marks the return of some normality to the Greek economy, long-term problems remain.Greek banks reopen after three weeks

Unemployment is stubbornly high, and as this chart shows, Greece’s recession is comparable to one of history’s most famous economic crashes.

However, a block on transfers to foreign banks and a ban on cashing cheques remain in place.

Greeks will also pay more on a range of goods and services, including taxis and restaurants, with VAT rising from 13% to 23%.

The rise was among a package of reforms demanded by Greece’s creditors to open talks on the proposed €86 billion bailout.

Members of PM Alexis Tsipras’ party rebelled against the austerity measures demanded by creditors when it was voted through parliament.

It paved the way for Greece to receive a bridging loan, which enables the reopening of the banks and for Athens to repay debts of €4.2 billion, (including €700 million in interest), to the European Central Bank (ECB) due on July 20.

Both Greece and the IMF have been arguing for a restructuring of its €320 billion debt, saying its current position is “unsustainable”.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel ruled out “a classic haircut” – a markdown of Greece’s debts.

She told German television other forms of relief, such as extending maturities or slashing interest rates, could be considered once the details of the latest program are worked out.

Angela Merkel also played down reports of a row with her Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, who suggested in an interview with Der Spiegel magazine that he would rather resign than defend something he did not believe in.

“The finance minister will, like me, conduct these negotiations and I can only say that no-one came to me and asked to be relieved,” said Angela Merkel when asked about the suggestion.

Germany, which is the largest contributor to Greek rescue funds, has taken a tough line on Greece.

At one point in the fraught talks over the bailout, Wolfgang Schaeuble suggested Greece could temporarily leave the eurozone while it stabilizes its economy.

PM Alexis Tsipras, who has reshuffled his cabinet to replace rebellious ministers, has another set of reforms to push through parliament on July 22.

Cuban Thaw: US and Cuba Diplomatic Missions Become Full Embassies

Cuba and the US have opened full embassies in Havana and Washington.

Just after midnight local time, the diplomatic missions of each country became full embassies.

The two countries formally restored diplomatic relations after an agreement struck in December 2014 putting aside decades of hostility came into force.

Secretary of State John Kerry is due to hold talks with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez later in the day in Washington.US embassy in Cuba reopens in 2015

Despite the historic shift, Cuba and the US admit to lingering difficulties.

There were still “issues that we don’t see eye to eye on”, a US state department spokesman said.

Restrictions on Americans wanting to travel to Cuba remain in place, as does the wider US trade embargo banning most American companies from doing business in Cuba.

Cuba says the embargo – which it calls a blockade – is hugely damaging to its economy.

Cuban President Raul Castro has urged President Barack Obama to lift it, calling it the main stumbling block towards normalizations. But the US Congress would have to vote on the issue.

Barack Obama and Raul Castro announced the move towards diplomatic ties in December 2014.

Phil Rudd Arrested Again in New Zealand

Phil Rudd has been arrested again in New Zealand, less than two weeks after being sentenced for drug possession and making threats to kill.

Earlier this month, former AC/DC drummer was sentenced to eight months in house detention.

At the time, the judge warned Phil Rudd, 61, that he would be imprisoned if he breached the terms of the sentence.Phil Rudd rearrested in New Zealand

Now, his lawyer Craig Tuck has said the drummer has been arrested again and will appear in court on July 20. He gave no further details, however.

“All I can say is he has been arrested and will be appearing on Monday at 10:00 in the Tauranga District Court,” Craig Tuck told the AFP news agency.

“That’s all I can say for now and that’s all I am telling everyone who is calling.”

Local police in the Bay of Plenty, on New Zealand’s North Island, told the Stuff.co.nz website the department would not comment until after the court hearing.

Phil Rudd was sentenced to house detention on July 9 for threatening to “take out” a former employee and possessing marijuana and methamphetamine.

Judge Thomas Ingram said home detention was the most appropriate punishment – but warned that he would be closely monitored and jail would be the next step if the drummer stepped out of line.

“I stone cold guarantee that’s where you’ll end up,” the judge said during sentencing.

“The temptations of the rock star lifestyle have caused your downfall here.”

Phil Rudd’s conviction led him to be left out of AC/DC’s current world tour.

AC/DC are playing in Stockholm, Sweden, on July 19.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VirDtY9-NnI

Chattanooga Shootings: Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez Sent War Text Before Attack

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According to new reports, the night before Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez killed five US service personnel in Chattanooga Tennessee, he sent a text message linking to a religious verse about “declaring war”.

Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez also spoke out against conflicts in the Middle East, according to the Reuters agency.

Police have said his motives are still being investigated.

Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez, who was killed in a shootout with police, suffered from depression, his family said.Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez Chattanooga attack

In a statement expressing “horror” at the attack, the family said: “The person who committed this horrible crime was not the son we knew and loved.

“For many years, our son suffered from depression. It grieves us beyond belief to know that his pain found its expression in this heinous act of violence.”

Meanwhile, Reuters and the New York Times say they have seen a text sent the night before to a friend linking to a passage of Islamic text – Hadith 38 – containing the verse: “Whosoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I will indeed declare war against him.”

The friend, who requested anonymity, said he thought nothing of the text at the time, but now wonders if it was a hint at the attack to come.

Other friends also told Reuters that Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez spoke of his anger about conflicts in the Middle East, including Israeli bombing campaigns in Gaza and the civil war in Syria, after returning from a trip to Jordan last year.

“He had always talked about it, but I’d say his level of understanding and awareness really rose after he came back,” said one of the friends interviewed.

They said he had purchased three guns online following the visit, and used them for target practice.

“It would be premature to speculate on exactly why the shooter did what he did,” FBI agent Ed Reinhold said.

“However, we are conducting a thorough investigation to determine whether this person acted alone or was inspired or directed.”

Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez began Thursday’s attack with a shooting spree at a recruitment centre in Chattanooga.

The gunman then drove about six miles to a Navy and Marine reserve centre, where he shot and killed four marines.

A fifth victim, named as Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith, died of his wounds on July 18.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H14rbKjYUTw

SaSa Assault: Tycoon Sok Bun Appears in Court over Attack

Cambodian tycoon Sok Bun, who is accused of assaulting actress Ek Socheata, better known as SaSa, has appeared in court after the woman posted a video of the attack online.

CCTV footage emerged earlier this month of an assault on SaSa at a restaurant in the capital Phnom Penh.

Sok Bun, 37, returned to Cambodia from Singapore, where he had fled.

Violence against women is commonplace in Cambodia but public exposure of this attack has sparked outrage.SaSa assault Sok Bun

After his arrest at Phnom Penh’s airport, Sok Bun faces charges of violence and intentionally causing injury.

On July 17, Cambodian PM Hun Sen called for Sok Bun’s arrest.

“Don’t think that because you have money you can escape,” Hun Sen said.

“What you have done is intolerable.”

The footage shows SaSa being dragged off a chair and on to the floor at a Japanese restaurant.

The actress is then kicked in the head, and when she tries to get up, she is punched and stamped on over the course of a minute.

At one point, a bodyguard draws a gun and points it at her head as the attack continues. It ends when a restaurant worker pulls the attacker away.

SaSa then obtained the video from the restaurant and posted it on her Facebook page. She has since given several interviews on national television and was still visibly badly bruised.

Earlier in the week, Sok Bun pleaded for forgiveness but a social media campaign called for his arrest.

“He pulled my hair and smashed my head against the floor,” SaSa told the Associated Press news agency.

“I was in shock, I couldn’t believe what was happening.”

SaSa says she was protecting a friend from the advances of Sok Bun, who was at one point the head of Cambodia’s estate agents’ association.

Yin Sophy, Sok Bun’s lawyer, was quoted in the Phnom Penh Post as saying his client had been keen to return to Cambodia to see the case resolved.

“My client has a real willingness to deal and take responsibility about this case,” he said.

“So he has come to solve these allegations with court directly.”

If found guilty, property tycoon Sok Bun could face up to five years in prison.

The newspaper reports that the bodyguard has been charged with attempted murder and remains at large.

SaSa says he pulled the trigger of his gun only for it to fail to discharge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISpYDjYTP68

FIFA Corruption Scandal: Ex-VP Jeffrey Webb Pleads Not Guilty

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Ex-FIFA Vice-President Jeffrey Webb has pleaded not guilty in the US in connection with a massive corruption scandal in the world soccer governing body.

Jeffrey Webb, from the Cayman Islands, was placed under house arrest on $10 million bail by a New York judge.

He is accused of accepting bribes worth millions of dollars in connection with the sale of marketing rights.

Jeffrey Webb was detained in Switzerland in May, along with six football officials, and was this week extradited to the US.

He was the only one not to contest his extradition from Switzerland and the first to appear in an American court.Jeffrey Webb FIFA corruption scandal

Jeffrey Webb must remain at home within a 20-mile radius of the court, his movements will be monitored via an electronic tag and he has already relinquished his three passports, two of which are UK passports.

His lawyer has declined to comment.

Jeffrey Webb, 50, has been provisionally banned as FIFA vice-president. He is also the former president of the Central and North American football federation (CONCACAF).

The other six people arrested are fighting their extradition to the US, where the charges were laid.

The men were held at the request of the Department of Justice, which has indicted a total of 14 current and former FIFA officials and associates on charges of “rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted” corruption following a major inquiry by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The investigation was initially sparked by the bidding process for the Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 World Cups, but was widened to look back at the dealings of world football’s governing body over the past 20 years.

The Department of Justice’s indictment says that the corruption was planned in the US, and that American banks were used to transfer money.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFVERUFtP5Y

Pele Hospitalized Two Months After Prostate Surgery

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Soccer legend Pele has been taken to hospital two months after having prostate surgery.

Pele, 74, was suffering from a trapped nerve and has had back surgery at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazilian media reports.

The Brazilian, a three-time World Cup winner, was treated for a urinary infection eight months ago after having kidney stones removed.Pele hospitalized again

He should be released in the coming days, according to reports.

Mirtes Bogea, a press officer for the Albert Einstein hospital, said she was not allowed to say when Pele was re-admitted or why.

Pele, who was named FIFA’s Player of the Century, scored a world record total of 1,281 goals in 1,363 games during his 21-year career, including 77 in 91 appearances for Brazil.

He has only one kidney, having had one removed towards the end of his playing career.

Pele played in 14 games at World Cup finals, scoring 12 goals, and was awarded the FIFA Golden Ball as the best player at the 1970 tournament.

Donald Trump Attacks John McCain’s Vietnam War Service

Donald Trump has sparked anger by attacking the military record of Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam.

The Republican presidential hopeful said John McCain was only considered a hero because he was a prisoner of war.

The billionaire and reality TV star then added: “I like people who weren’t captured.”

The comments prompted strong criticism across the party. Rival contender Rick Perry said the remarks were a “new low” in US politics.Donald Trump attacks John McCain

Donald Trump later sought to clarify his remarks, although he did not apologize.

“If a person is captured, they’re a hero as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

“I don’t like the job John McCain is doing in the Senate because he is not taking care of our veterans.”

The two have clashed before, with John McCain accusing Donald Trump of having “fired up the crazies” with his attacks on Mexican immigrants.

John McCain was held for 5-and-a-half years after his plane was shot down in the Vietnam War.

Donald Trump avoided service through student and medical deferments.

John McCain is yet to respond to Donald Trump’s remarks, although his daughter Meghan tweeted she was “disgusted”.

Many of Donald Trump’s rivals for the nomination lined up to attack him.

There are currently 15 people running to be the Republican presidential candidate.

Donald Trump has led in some early polls, although analysts have predicted his appeal is likely to wane as the contest develops.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlCIzW-i28E

Randall Smith Becomes Fifth Victim of Chattanooga Shootings

A fifth victim has died from wounds sustained in Chattanoog attack two days ago, the US Navy announces.

The death of logistics specialist Randall Smith brings to five the number of people killed by gunman Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez. The other four victims were US marines.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith, 26, succumbed to wounds received in Thursday’s gun rampage, the US Naval Institute reported.

Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez was himself later killed in a shootout with police.Randall Smith Chattanooga shootings

The FBI has said his motives for the shooting were unclear.

However, it says it has found no evidence that he was carrying out an international terror plot.

Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez first fired shots at a recruitment centre in Chattanooga, then drove about 6 miles to a Navy and Marine reserve centre, where he shot and killed the marines, and wounded Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Smith.

“A male Navy Petty Officer succumbed to wounds received in the July 16 shooting at the Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) in Chattanooga, Tennessee” on Saturday at 02:17 local time, the US Navy said in a statement.

It did not name the sailor, but family members confirmed it was Randall Smith.

A relative told the military newspaper Stars and Stripes that she said Randall Smith was married with three young daughters.

David Guetta Criticized for Using Horse in Ibiza’s Pacha Nightclub Show

David Guetta sparked outrage among animal rights campaigners after bringing a horse into his set in Ibiza’s Pacha nightclub.

The world’s famous DJ has agreed never to bring a horse on stage with him again, after an almost 10,000-strong petition was launched by furious animal rights campaigners.

A petition was launched, named Stop DAVID GUETTA to rent a horse for his shows in PACHA IBIZA, after he brought the animal on stage at around 4AM.

“The horse has to enter the big PACHA hall at 4 in the morning, where a huge crowd of people, drunk and drugged, screaming and sweating, are celebrating their party night. The noise and smell is unbearable for most people, but even more for an animal,” the petition read.David Guetta horse Ibiza show

“My attention was brought to this case, because a visitor of the show contacted me because she observed that the horse was extremely stressed.”

The petition goes on to claim that, according to insiders, the animal was previously injured on its back and two legs.

It has garnered almost 10,000 signatures, and was backed by fellow DJ Deadmau5.

DJ Deadmau5 tweeted: “For real… horses belong on a farm, not in a s****y overpriced nightclub to be subjected to a s****y overpaid DJ.”

A video of the set shows the horse stood still on stage as the crowd parties around it.

David Guetta’s rep confirmed it won’t happen again, saying in a statement: “A horse appeared for three minutes – owned by a vet – and with full ear protection and security at the opening.”

They added: “The club is too busy now. So no horse.”

X-Files Trailer: Fox Mulder and Dana Scully Return on TV in January 2016

Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny have reunited as agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder for a new season of The X-Files series after a thirteen and a half year hiatus.

The latest teaser to give fans a taste of what is to come has been released and it shows the two former FBI agents in familiar territory.X Files new season 2015

Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are seen looking in the corners of darkened buildings a corners, both brandishing a torchlight.

Dana Scully also holds a gun as she looks into the darkness. Both look frightened as their faces are caught in the blaze from the flashlight.

As well as David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprising their much-loved double act, the Smoking Man (William B Davis) and FBI head honcho Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) are also set to return, with guest spots from Rhys Darby and Joel McHale as Tad O’Malley – an internet news anchor.

The X-Files will premiere on January 24, 2016, on Fox.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFJnWwh12j0

El Chapo Guzman Escape: Seven Prison Officers Charged

Seven prison officers with involvement in the escape of notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman have been charged on July 18, Mexico’s Attorney General has announced.

Officials said a further 15 people were being investigated.

El Chapo Guzman escaped from a Mexico’s maximum security prison through a tunnel that surfaced in his cell and ran 1 mile to a building outside the prison walls.

His Sinaloa cartel is responsible for much of Mexico’s trafficking of drugs to the US.El Chapo Guzman escape charges

Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto, who has just arrived back from an overseas trip, said he shared the sense of frustration and anger of the Mexican people about the escape.

Enrique Pena Nieto said: “We are not going to resolve this only with anger and filling ourselves with fury. The only way to reverse this is with a recapture.”

He said that all those who had participated in the escape would be punished with “the full weight of the law”.

So far the government has fired two prison officials and the prison’s warden.

A poll in the newspaper Reforma said 88% of Mexicans believed the escape was an inside job, and 65% blamed the authorities’ incompetence rather than El Chapo Guzman’s cunning.

Many Mexicans have been discussing whether the government should have agreed to a US request to extradite Joaquin Guzman on the basis that American prisons would have been harder for Guzman to break out of.

First arrested in Guatemala in 1993, Joaquin “Shorty” Guzman spent nearly a decade in another maximum-security Mexican jail before escaping, reportedly in a laundry basket.

He was on the run for 21 years during which he continued to build his drug-trafficking empire.

El Chapo Guzman was arrested in 2014 after a series of high-profile arrests of associates and covert surveillance by the US authorities.

He had been tracked by a special unit of trusted Mexican Marines to a series of safe houses.

El Chapo Guzman was finally found with his family at a seaside condominium in a resort town, Mazatlan.