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HSBC to Cut 8,000 Jobs in UK, Sell off Turkey and Brazil Operations

British bank HSBC is planning to cut 8,000 jobs in the UK as it tries to reduce costs and simplify its business.

Europe’s biggest bank has 48,000 workers in the UK and will make cuts in both its retail and investment banking operations.

A total of 25,000 jobs could be axed worldwide, meaning close to 10% of HSBC’s 266,000 workers will go.

HSBC will also ring-fence its UK operations and sell businesses in Turkey and Brazil, it said on June 9.

The news comes ahead of a presentation that HSBC CEO Stuart Gulliver will give to investors and analysts in his second major strategy plan since taking up the role in 2011.HSBC job cut 2015

In a statement, Stuart Gulliver said: “We recognize that the world has changed and we need to change with it. That is why we are outlining the following… strategic actions that will further transform our organization.”

The 10-point plan aims to cut costs by up to $5 billion and increase investment in Asia – particularly in China.

Stuart Gulliver: “Asia [is] expected to show high growth and become the centre of global trade over the next decade.

“Our actions will allow us to capture expected future growth opportunities.”

HSBC’s Hong Kong-listed shares rose almost 1% following the announcement, but remain down 9% over the past 12 months.

The bank said it would make a decision on whether to move its headquarters out of the UK by the end of the year.

There has been speculation that HSBC may relocate its headquarters to Hong Kong since it announced the review in April.

Human Ken Doll Celso Santebañes Dies of Blood Cancer Aged 20

Brazilian model Celso Santebañes, who was nicknamed “The Human Ken Doll,” has died after a five-month struggle with leukemia.

Celso Santebañes, 20, died on Thursday, June 4, from bacterial pneumonia following a bout with leukemia.

Diagnosed with the rare form of blood cancer last year, Celso Santebañes underwent a battery of chemotherapy treatments starting in December of 2014. He died at the Federal University of Uberlândia Clinical Hospital, where he was undergoing his latest round of chemotherapy.

Celso Santebañes spent thousands of dollars on surgery to transform himself into a real-life version of iconic doll Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken, People magazine reports.Human Ken Doll Celso Santebañes dead at 21

Starting at the age of 15, Celso Santebañes entered beauty contests. As a teenager, people kept telling him that he looked like a Ken Doll. Obsessed with the perfection of physical beauty, the Brazilian model started to identify features of his face that didn’t look like Ken Doll.

His nose was too wide, his lip too natural and his philtrum – the crease of the upper lip – simply too natural.

By his late teens, Celso Santebañes had fixed his “imperfections” and joined a growing number of adult men aspiring to look like a Ken Doll. Not to be outdone by the original Mattel doll, Celso Santebañes released a line of “Celso” dolls modeled after himself. He daydreamed about making a film with Valeria Lukyanova, the Ukrainian “Human Barbie”.

In his five month battle with cancer, Celso Santebañes immediately had to confront his own physical deterioration, the undoing of what had become his personal identity and national image. It started with dark spots on his skin and bleeding gums, side effects of the blood cancer. Once in treatment his hair fell out. He’d later be confined to a wheelchair, a scrawny pale shadow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTC0PZg5GL4

How to Finish a Project When You’ve Left it to the Last Minute

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If you’ve been handed a task or presentation to make at work but you’ve left it to the minute, you’ll find yourself in a sticky situation. The only solution is to get to work, here’s how!

Get Rid of Distractions

You’ve wasted enough time already, so you can’t afford to waste anymore. We all know how easy it is to get distracted when we’re trying to work, so the trick is to remove as many of the distractions as you possibly can. Ideally, you’ll have a room to yourself, free from any family member or other people in the house.

How often to do you check your phone or check your Twitter feed? I bet the answer is a lot. But when you’re pressed for time, you couldn’t afford these distractions. Get rid of any gadgets, phones, tablets and anything else that you might tempt you to procrastinate.

Employ Multitasking

If your work project is something that you’re undertaking alone, you’ll probably have to do a lot of different jobs at once. You might have a presentation to create, a speech to right, statistics to analyse and interpret, research to undertake and conclusions to write. You can’t do all these things by yourself unless you learn how to multitask.

Some people are a lot better at this than others, but it will certainly help you get the work done a lot quicker. It’s just a case of keeping all the plates spinning at once while making sure you don’t leave anything out or forget any vital aspects of the job.

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Use the Internet

The internet is your friend, so use it wisely. Think about how much more difficult your life would be if you didn’t have the instant access to information that the internet now allows you. It’d certainly make leaving your work to the last minute that little bit more difficult. It can be a lot of help so make sure you use it.

There are all kinds of resources that can help you out. There are even apps and sites that can alert you to keep typing. If you stop typing for a certain amount of time, the alarm will set off and tell you to keep going. There are all sorts of other online resources like www.s9.com and Wikipedia that can be a great help when you need quick information too.

Don’t Forget to Check Over Everything Once Completed

When the work is finally done and it’s way past your bedtime, there is still a few things to do. You need to check through your work and make sure everything is as it should be. This is especially true if you are presenting to your bosses. You don’t want to be embarrassed by any silly mistakes.

Check every word you’ve written and make sure that the presentation style is neat and professional. It shouldn’t look like a project that you did at the last minute, even if that’s exactly what you did! And lastly, learn your lesson and leave yourself more time to do the work next time.

We all run out of time and find the work piling up from time to time, so let this guide help you out.

Dolores Aveiro: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Mom Breaches Money Laundering Rules at Madrid Airport

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s mom, Dolores Aveiro, was stopped last month at Madrid airport with €55,000 ($61,000) in her handbag, El Mundo newspaper reports.

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, 30, is the world’s highest-paid soccer player.

According to El Mundo, Dolores Aveiro, 61, was stopped by the civil guard while waiting for a flight home to Portugal.

Dolores Aveiro could not explain to officials why she needed so much cash, the publication said.

It said that the money will be held by officials until she pays a fine and fills in the correct documentation.Cristiano Ronaldo mom Dolores Aveiro

Spanish rules drawn up to prevent money laundering stipulate that the maximum amount travelers are permitted to take out of Spain without declaring the transfer is €10,000.

Anyone who breaks this rule is not guilty of a crime, El Mundo said, but an administrative offence.

Dolores Aveiro is reported to spend long periods of time with her multimillionaire son in his luxury mansion near Madrid.

She was reported to have been briefly held by border police at Barajas airport in the middle of last month and must now pay a €600 fine in order to get the cash back.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract at Real Madrid earns him around €350,000 each week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMySM2zDXC4

Barack Obama: No Complete Strategy on ISIS Fight in Iraq

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At a news conference in Germany, President Barack Obama has revealed the US does not yet have a “complete strategy” for helping Iraq regain territory from Islamic State (ISIS).

He said the Pentagon was reviewing ways to help Iraq train and equip its forces.

However, Barack Obama said a full commitment to the process was needed by the Iraqis themselves.

The president had earlier met Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Germany.

ISIS has recently made gains in Iraq despite US-led coalition air strikes.Barack Obama G7 Summit news conference

In May the militants seized Ramadi, the capital of Anbar, Iraq’s largest province, as well as the Syrian town of Tadmur and the neighboring ancient ruins of Palmyra.

US officials cited a lack of training as a major factor in the fall of Ramadi.

However, Barack Obama said that the 3,000 US service personnel in Iraq sometimes found themselves with “more training capacity than we’ve got recruits”.

“We don’t have, yet, a complete strategy, because it requires commitments on the part of Iraqis as well about how recruitment takes place, how that training takes place,” Barack Obama told a news conference.

“We want to get more Iraqi security forces trained, fresh, well-equipped and focused and [Haider al-] Abadi wants the same thing so we’re reviewing a range of plans for how we might do that.”

President Barack Obama said he was “absolutely confident” ISIS would be driven out of Iraq if Haider al-Abadi has the support of the international coalition as well as a government that represents all the Iraqi people.

The president said all countries in the coalition were ready to do more to help train Iraqi security forces.

Iraq has become increasingly reliant on Iranian-backed Shia militias to take on ISIS in recent months.

Oscar Pistorius to Be Released on Probation in August

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Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius is set to be released on probation on August 21, South African prison authorities say.

Oscar Pistorius, 28, will be released after serving 10 months in jail for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013.

The double amputee athlete was jailed for five years in 2014 for the culpable homicide of Reeva Steenkamp.

Reeva Steenkamp’s parents have said that the time he has served is “not enough for taking a life”.

A state appeal against Oscar Pistorius’ acquittal on murder charges is due in November.Oscar Pistorius to be released on probation

Under South African law, Oscar Pistorius is eligible for release under “correctional supervision” having served a sixth of his sentence.

The decision is likely to mean a spell under house arrest for Oscar Pistorius.

Oscar Pistorius shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door at his Pretoria home, believing she was an intruder, he told his trial.

In March, a Johannesburg court blocked his legal team’s attempts to stop the prosecutors’ appeal.

State prosecutors say Oscar Pistorius should have been found guilty of murder – if convicted he could face a much more lengthy jail term.

Tania Koen, a lawyer for Reeva Steenkamp’s parents Barry and June, said that while the two had forgiven Oscar Pistorius, “ten months is not enough”.

“It also doesn’t send out the proper message and serve as the proper deterrent as the way it should.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zq5hiIap8E

United Passions: FIFA Movie Takes Only $600 in Its Opening Weekend

United Passions, a vanity film about the history of soccer’s governing body FIFA, has flopped in the US, taking just $607 in its opening weekend.

The movie was funded by about $25 million of FIFA cash, and was completed before corruption charges were made against 14 of its officials at the end of last month.

Starring Tim Roth as Sepp Blatter, the hagiography of FIFA has had damning reviews.

The movie’s budget was estimated at between $25 – $32 million, with FIFA said to have put up about three-quarters of the money.FIFA movie United Passions

United Passions debuted in the States on June 5, on just 10 screens.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the FilmBar cinema in Phoenix reported takings of just $9, meaning only one person bought a ticket.

The movie’s release came as FIFA faces an investigation into allegations of corruption during the bidding process to host the 2010 World Cup.

The DoJ 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 FBI.

President Sepp Blatter stood down last week, although he faces no charges himself.

United Passions purports to present the history of FIFA through three leaders, and co-stars Sam Neill as Sepp Blatter’s predecessor, Joao Havelange, and Gerard Depardieu, who plays FIFA founder Jules Rimet.

Gerard Depardieu was the only actor who attended the movie’s world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014.

Jennifer Lopez Sued in Morocco After Mawazine Festival Concert

Morocco’s PM Abdelilah Benkirane has ordered an investigation into the public TV broadcast of a Jennifer Lopez concert in the country.

J. Lo’s performance at the Mawazine festival in Rabat on May 29 was aired on the 2M public TV network.

Abdelilah Benkirane said the airing was “serious delinquency”, adding it contained “disgraceful scenes”.

He added the broadcast was in violation of Morocco’s audiovisual law.

Last week, Morocco’s minister of communication was criticized for allowing the concert to air on public TV, leading to calls for him to resign.

Local media also criticized Jennifer Lopez for her “poses” and for being “scantily” dressed.Jennifer Lopez Mawazine festival Morocco

Writing to the president of Morocco’s High Authority of Audiovisual Communication, PM Abdelilah Benkirane demanded the authority “take legal measures against those responsible”.

The prime minsiter said the channel had broadcast scenes which were “provocative to the religious and moral values of Moroccan society”.

He said those responsible for the channel and its output “failed to intervene and stop the broadcast of the disgraceful scenes” as the concert was broadcast with a time delay.

J. Lo has performed in Morocco before with no trouble, however it is the first time one of her concerts has been broadcast on television.

An educational group is also suing Jennifer Lopez over the performance, claiming she “disturbed public order and tarnished women’s honor and respect”, TMZ reported.

In the event Jennifer Lopez and her promoter are prosecuted, the sentence could be up to two years in prison.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh6KZf9bl74

Enrique Iglesias Thanks Fans for Support After Reconstructive Hand Surgery

Enrique Iglesias thanked his fans for their support as he is recovering after reconstructive hand surgery.

The 40-year-old singer had his fingers sliced as he grabbed a drone during a concert in Mexico.

With a red “Thank You!” written in the palm of his unharmed hand, Enrique Iglesias used his Instagram page to show his gratitude by offering to answer their questions.Enrique Iglesias after reconstructive hand surgery

Enrique Iglesias wrote: “Let’s do this! #FollowFriday and #FanChat… wanted to do something special to thank all you guys for your love and support this week. Leave your questions on this post!”

Hundreds of followers, mostly women writing in Spanish, immediately flooded the post with well wishes and asking: “When are you resuming your tour?”

Enrique Iglesias replied to a fan: “My hand is getting better little by little.

“I am going to Mexico at the beginning of July, so see you there!”

Enrique Iglesias underwent reconstructive hand surgery in Los Angeles after he grabbed a drone flying over the stage in Tijuana, Mexico, slicing his fingers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SbW6Y0Wil0

Richard Matt and David Sweat: $100,000 Reward Offered in New York Jailbreak Case

The escape of convicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat from a maximum security jail in New York has been described as a “crisis situation” by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, used power tools to break out of Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora near the Canadian border.

Andrew Cuomo said: “These are dangerous men capable of committing grave crimes again.”

New York State is offering a $100,000 reward for any information leading to Richard Matt and David Sweat arrest.

The governor said the prison breakout was the first escape from the facility in 150 years.

The New York Post reported that Richard Matt and David Sweat cut through the steel back walls of their cell before clambering along a catwalk to reach a series of pipes and tunnels, which they again cut their way through.New York jailbreak reward Richard Matt and David Sweat

Richard Matt and David Sweat then climbed up through a manhole into a nearby street, “disappearing into the darkness some 20 miles south of Canada”.

They placed bundles of clothing in their beds to fool guards into believing they were asleep, before making their escape during Friday night. Their absence from adjoining cells was not discovered until the following morning.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said someone must have heard at least some of the noise.

After the prisoners were apprehended, the authorities would conduct a full review of the escape, he added.

“We’ll go through the exact details of what they did and how they did it to ensure this never happens again.”

Richard Matt was given a jail term of 25 years to life for the kidnapping and beating a man to death in 1997.

David Sweat was serving a life sentence without parole for the murder of Broome County Sheriff’s Deputy, Kevin Tarsia.

Police are trying to determine how the men acquired the tools needed to carry out the escape.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo posted pictures of pipes and walls with chunks cut out after he was shown the inmates’ escape route.

More than 200 officers are searching for Richard Matt and David Sweat, using sniffer dogs and aerial surveillance.

They may have crossed the border into Canada or headed to another state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. There is also concern they may have had assistance from someone outside the prison.

Roadblocks have been set up in the area to catch Richard Matt and David Sweat, who both have distinctive tattoos, according to local media.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1LfQZWBde0

Turkey Elections 2015: AKP Faces Challenge to Form New Government

Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party AKP faces a challenge to form a new government after losing its majority at Turkey’s general election for the first time in 13 years.

AKP secured 41%, a sharp drop from 2011, and must form a coalition or face entering a minority government.

The pro-Kurdish HDP crossed the 10% threshold, securing seats in parliament for the first time.

The Turkish lira and shares dropped sharply on June 8 as markets reacted to the news.

The Turkish currency fell to near-record lows against the dollar, and shares dropped by more than 8% soon after the Istanbul stock exchange opened.

Turkey’s central bank acted quickly to prop up the lira by cutting the interest rate on foreign currency deposits.

The election result is a blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s plans to boost his office’s powers.Turkey elections 2015 Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Recep Tayyip Erdogan first came to power as prime minister in 2003 and had been seeking a two-thirds majority to turn Turkey into a presidential republic.

PM Ahmet Davutoglu said: “The winner of the election is again the AKP, there’s no doubt.”

He added: “Our people’s decision is final. It’s above everything and we will act in line with it.”

The HDP’s supporters were jubilant, taking to the streets to chant “we are the HDP, we are going to the parliament”.

HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas ruled out entering into a coalition with the AKP.

He said at a news conference in Istanbul “The discussion of executive presidency and dictatorship has come to an end in Turkey with these elections.”

With nearly all the votes counted, the AKP looks likely to win 258 seats in parliament, 18 fewer than it requires for a majority.

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) looks likely to be the second largest party, as in the previous parliament, polling around 25% of the vote.

In third place is the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) on 16.5%, with the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) in fourth place with 13%.

The HDP is expected to finish with 75 to 80 seats after attracting votes beyond its Kurdish support base.

Many turned out to vote in the HDP’s heartland of Diyarbakir, two days after a bombing in the eastern city killed two people and injured 200 more.

The MHP’s leader Devlet Bahceli did not rule out the possibility of entering a coalition government, but said the results represented the “beginning of the end for the AKP”.

Once viewed as invincible, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party has been criticized in recent years for its clampdown on free speech and its growing authoritarianism.

After the official result is declared, Ahmet Davutoglu has 45 days to form a government.

G7 Summit 2015: Climate Change and Terrorism Top Agenda

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The second day of the G7 summit in Germany is being dominated by the climate change and extremism talks.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants the economic powers group to reach an agreement on limiting global temperature rises.

Angela Merkel also wants G7 members to contribute to a fund for poor countries suffering the worst effects of climate change.

There will also be talks on the threat from radical extremism with the leaders of Nigeria, Tunisia and Iraq.

G7 summit is being held at the picturesque Schloss Elmau hotel in Krun in the Bavarian Alps.

It is being attended by President Barack Obama, UK PM David Cameron, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, French President Francois Hollande, Canadanian PM Stephen Harper and Italian PM Matteo Renzi.G7 Summit 2015 Germany

The first working session on June 8 will focus on climate and energy, with Chancellor Angela Merkel trying to get leaders to agree to keeping temperature rises within 2C of pre-industrial levels.

Angela Merkel is hoping to secure commitments from her G7 guests on tackling global warming to build momentum before a major UN climate summit in Paris in December.

Later, G7 leaders will be joined by Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi to discuss the threat posed by groups like Islamic State (ISIS) and Boko Haram.

On June 7, David Cameron said the UK was sending an extra 125 military trainers to Iraq to help in the battle against IS, describing the militants as “the biggest threat” G7 leaders had to address.

ISIS continues to control large swathes of Iraq and Syria despite being the target of a US-led air campaign against them.

In Nigeria, a similar regional battle is being fought against Boko Haram militants who have carried out attacks since 2009 to try to create an Islamic state.

The 41st G7 summit is held in Schloss Elmau, Krün, Bavaria, Germany on June 7–8, 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D85CIhhme8g

Kate Moss Escorted off EasyJet Plane at London Luton Airport

According to new reports, Kate Moss has been escorted off a plane at London’s Luton airport after being disruptive.

The EasyJet flight had arrived from Bodrum in Turkey on June 7.

In a statement, Bedfordshire Police said they “were called to assist staff in escorting a passenger from a flight arriving into Luton airport this afternoon”.Kate Moss escorted off plane

No formal complaints were made against Kate Moss and she was not arrested.

EasyJet confirmed police had met flight EZY2232 from Bodrum to Luton on June 7 owing to the behavior of a passenger onboard.

The airline went on to say it “does not tolerate disruptive behavior and will always report any incidents to the authorities”.

A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said: “The passenger had been reported as being disruptive on the flight.

“Officers attended and escorted the passenger from the plane. No formal complaints were made against her and she was not arrested.”

Turkey Elections 2015: Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AKP Loses Majority

Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party AKP appears on course to lose its parliamentary majority after today’s general elections in Turkey, early projections suggest.

According to Turkish exit polls, the pro-Kurdish HDP is set to cross the 10% threshold, securing seats for the first time.

With 90% of the vote counted, the AKP had 42% of the vote, according to Turkish TV stations.

If confirmed, the result would end the AKP’s 13-year single-party rule, and upset President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s plans to boost his office’s powers.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who first came to power as prime minister in 2003, has been seeking a two-thirds majority to turn Turkey into a presidential republic.Turkey elections 2015 HDP

According to the TV projections, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party’s share of the vote would translate into 263 seats in the 550-seat parliament, followed by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) would get 11.6% – 75 seats.

An unnamed AKP official told Reuters news agency: “We expect a minority government and early election.”

Turkey’s PM Ahmet Davutoglu also said: “The people’s decision is the most correct decision.”

HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas complained as he voted that the election campaign “was not a fair and equal race”. Four people died in an explosion at a party rally on June 5.

Selahattin Demirtas added: “Hopefully we will wake up to a new and freer Turkey on June 8.”

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, chairman of the CHP, echoed Selahattin Demirtas and called the campaign period “unequal”. He promised however to “continue to work with a sense of responsibility”.

The result may have ramifications beyond Turkey’s borders.

Turkey is a vital NATO member in a volatile Middle East and a rare mix of Islam and democracy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsA3-OjOepo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMpcikK7QM8

Enrique Iglesias Drone Injury Worse than Expected

Enrique Iglesias’ spokesperson has announced that the singer’s hand injuries are worse than expected.

Enrique Iglesias, 40, sliced his fingers open when he tried to grab a drone camera, which was taking pictures of the audience, at a concert on May 30.

Following reconstructive surgery on June 1, it was announced the singer would need several weeks to recover.

A statement on Enrique Iglesias’ website said: “The damage ended up being a bit worse than initially assessed.

“He suffered a fracture that needed to be corrected in addition to the reconstructive surgery.

“He will be recovering during the next few weeks, but a full recovery is anticipated.”Enrique Iglesias drone injury 2015

Enrique Iglesias was performing in Tijuana, Mexico when he reached for the drone, apparently in an attempt to give fans a point-of-view shot from the stage.

The singer was “semi-treated” at the side of the stage to stop the bleeding, and was advised to end the show.

However, Enrique Iglesias performed for another 30 minutes before seeking further treatment.

A representative for the singer said on Instagram: “He was rushed to the airport where an ambulance met him.

“He was then put on a plane to LA… to see a specialist.”

Enrique Iglesias, one of the highest-selling Latin musicians of all time, shifting more than 137 million albums worldwide, is expected to resume his tour on July 3 in Mexico City.

DARPA Robotics Challenge 2015: South Korea’s KAIST Team Wins DRC Finals

South Korea’s robotics team KAIST has won the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC).

The DRC is a competition of robot systems and software teams vying to develop robots capable of assisting humans in responding to natural and man-made disasters.

The contest was designed to be extremely difficult.

Participating teams, representing some of the most advanced robotics research and development organizations in the world, are collaborating and innovating on a very short timeline to develop the hardware, software, sensors, and human-machine control interfaces that will enable their robots to complete a series of challenge tasks selected by DARPA for their relevance to disaster response.

The contest is a battle of robots on an obstacle course meant to simulate conditions similar to the 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant disaster.

The DRC Finals took place from June 5-6, 2015 at Fairplex in Pomona, California.DRC Hubo humanoid robot South Korea

Team KAIST’s DRC-Hubo humanoid robot defeated 22 others to win the top $2 million prize from the US Department of Defense’s DARPA research unit.

The robots had an hour to complete a series of tasks, such as a driving a car and walking up steps.

The challenge involved a series of tasks for the robots to complete, somewhat autonomously, with intermittent connectivity with their operators to simulate real disaster conditions.

The challenge was the first where robots performed without being tethered and there were plenty of hard falls, soliciting groans and laughter from the crowds at the contest.

The other tasks the robots were set included getting out of a car, opening a door, drilling a hole in a wall, turning a valve and crossing rubble either by clearing a path or walking over it.

Team KAIST was the fastest, completing all the tasks in 44 minutes and 28 seconds.

Team IHMC Robotics came second, winning $1 million, and Tartan Rescue’s Chimp robot was third, winning $500,000, a day after taking a hard fall and then wowing the crowd by getting back up and back to work without human help.

The DRC Finals also included two mystery tasks over two days – on day one the mystery was pulling a lever and on day two it was pulling a plug out of one socket and inserting it into another.

Each team was given two attempts to complete the course.

There were meant to be 25 teams competing, but Japan’s team Hydra dropped out at the last minute because of an electronics accident during training.

A Chinese team was also due to compete but reportedly couldn’t get their visas in time.

Ludvik Vaculik Dies in Prague Aged 88

Czech novelist and dissident Ludvik Vaculik, who wrote the Two Thousand Words manifesto during the 1968 Prague Spring, has died at the age of 88.

Ludvik Vaculik’s June 1968 manifesto demanded openness from officials in the then Czechoslovakia and called for the resignation of those who misused power.

Two months later, Soviet-led forces invaded Czechoslovakia, ending hopes for political reforms.

Ludvik Vaculik’s novels include The Axe, The Guinea Pigs and The Czech Dreambook.Ludvik Vaculik dies at 88

The novelist – like his contemporary and fellow-writer Milan Kundera – initially supported the Communists when they took power in Czechoslovakia in 1948.

However, in 1967, a year after Ludvik Vaculik published his first major work, The Axe, he was expelled from the Communist Party, following a highly critical speech at a writers’ congress.

A year later, Ludvik Vaculik was asked to write his Two Thousand Words manifesto to support reformers within the Communist Party under the liberal leader Alexander Dubcek.

In 1970, Ludvik Vaculik wrote The Guinea Pigs – a bleakly comic novel about the cynicism pervading everyday life in the years after the pro-Soviet crackdown.

Several years later, Ludvik Vaculik was one of a group of dissidents who wrote the Charter 77 human rights manifesto, along with the playwright and future President Vaclav Havel.

After the 1989 Velvet Revolution, Ludvik Vaculik was widely published and received a number of literary rewards.

Richard Matt and David Sweat: Convicted Murderers Escape from New York Jail

Two convicted killers are on the run after escaping from a maximum security jail in New York.

They used power tools to cut through steel pipes at a maximum-security prison near the Canadian border and escape through a manhole, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on June 6.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo described Richard Matt and David Sweat as “dangerous individuals”.

They cut through steel pipes at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora and fled through a man hole.

Andrew Cumo said the prison breakout was the first escape from the facility in 150 years.

Photo New York State Police
Photo New York State Police

“It was an elaborate plot,” the governor added.

David Sweat, 34, was serving a life sentence without parole for the first degree murder of Broome County sheriff’s deputy.

Richard Matt, 48, was given a jail term of 25 years to life for the kidnapping and beating a man to death in 1997.

The two men’s adjoining cells were found to be empty during a morning check, said Anthony Annuci, the acting state corrections commissioner.

“A search revealed that there was a hole cut out of the back of the cell through which these inmates escaped,” he added.

“They went onto a catwalk which is about six stories high. We estimate they climbed down and had power tools and were able to get out to this facility through tunnels, cutting away at several spots.”

Police are trying to determine how the men acquired the tools.

More than 200 officers are searching for the prisoners, using sniffer dogs and aerial surveillance.

Clinton Correctional Facility is about 20 miles from the Canadian border. Roadblocks have been set up in the area, according to local media.

David Sweat is described as a white male, 5ft 11in tall, with brown hair and green eyes. He weighs 165lb and has tattoos on his left bicep and his right fingers.

Richard Matt is also white and is 6ft tall.

He has black hair and hazel eyes and weighs around 210lbs.

Richard Matt’s tattoos include “Mexico Forever” on his back, a heart on his chest and left shoulder and a Marine Corps insignia on his right shoulder.

Turkey Elections 2015: Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AKP Challenged by Pro-Kurdish HTP

Turkey is voting in a general election which will determine whether President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, AKP, can change the constitution.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who first came to power as prime minister in 2003, is seeking a big enough majority to turn Turkey into a presidential republic.

However, the pro-Kurdish HDP may cross the 10% threshold and enter parliament.

Explosions at its election rally in Diyarbakir on June 5 killed four.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Officials said the blasts were caused by improvised bombs.

HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas criticized Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s response to the killings.

If the left-wing HDP succeeds in winning seats in parliament for the first time, it would reduce the number of seats won by Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AKP, thwarting its plans to change the constitution and transfer the prime minister’s executive powers to the president.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan served as prime minister until he won the presidential election in 2014.

A strong showing by the HDP might well deprive the ruling AKP of a parliamentary majority.

Sunday’s election is the biggest electoral challenge for the AKP since it came to power 13 years ago.

The result may also have ramifications beyond Turkey’s borders.

Turkey is a vital NATO member in a volatile Middle East and a rare mix of Islam and democracy.

Princess Charlotte and Prince George First Official Photos

Kensington Palace has released a series of pictures of Prince George and his little sister, Princess Charlotte.

The four pictures show Princess Charlotte being cradled by her elder brother as they sit on a couch at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, their family home with their royal parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton.Princess Charlotte and Prince George official photo 2 (2)

The photos were taken by their mother, Kate Middleton, just weeks after Princess Charlotte was born on May 2.Princess Charlotte and Prince George official portrait 2015 (2)

In each of the pictures, Princess Charlotte is lying on Prince George’s lap, wearing white. The prince is wearing a white shirt, blue shorts and blue socks.Princess Charlotte and Prince George official portrait 2015

In one, Prince George appears to be kissing his sister on the forehead.

Prince William, Kate Middleton and their children have been at Anmer Hall since leaving London shortly after the birth of Princess Charlotte.

The royal couple is expected to be based there for the next few years as they raise Princess Charlotte and Prince George, who is almost two, with the help of a full-time nanny.Princess Charlotte and Prince George photo 2015

Photography is listed as one of Kate Middleton’s hobbies in her biography on the royal website. The pictures were taken on a Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera.

The first official images of Prince George, released in 2013, were taken by Kate Middleton’s father, Michael Middleton, in the garden of their home in Bucklebury, Berkshire.

On June 5, it was announced Princess Charlotte will be christened on Sunday, July 5, at St Mary Magdalene Church at the Queen’s Sandringham estate.

Princess Charlotte was born on May 2 at London’s St Mary’s Hospital, weighing 8lbs 3oz.

Princess Charlotte and Prince George’s First Photo Together Revealed

Kensington Palace has released the first official photo of Princess Charlotte with her older brother, Prince George.

The palace tweeted the image of the royal siblings on June 6, having earlier described it as “very special”.

The picture is the first of four photos of Princess Charlotte that will be released Saturday, June 6. The candid shots were taken by the princess’ mother, Kate Middleton, who has a reputation as a “keen photographer,” at Anmer Hall, the family’s home in Norfolk.Princess Charlotte and Prince George first photo 2015

On June 5, Kensington Palace announced that Princess Charlotte would be christened on July 5 by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Princess Charlotte’s christening will take place at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s second child was born on May 2 at London’s St Mary’s Hospital, weighing 8lbs 3oz.

Princess Charlotte is the fourth in line to the UK’s throne and her full name has been registered as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSaE0VjBITA

Beau Biden Funeral: Barack Obama Delivers Emotional Eulogy

President Barack Obama has delivered an emotional eulogy at the funeral of Beau Biden, the son of Vice-President Joe Biden.

Former Delaware Attorney-General Beau Biden died on May 30 from brain cancer at the age of 46.

Beau Biden was seen as a rising star of US politics but suffered from health problems in recent years.

He had intended to run for Delaware state governor in 2016.

Barack Obama said: “Beau Biden was an original. He was a good man. A man of character. A man who loved deeply and was loved in return.”

About 1,000 people – including Bill and Hillary Clinton and numerous other top politicians – attended the funeral at a Roman Catholic church in Wilmington, the largest city in the state of Delaware.

Joe Biden led a procession into the church with his family at the beginning of the service.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Mourners heard Barack Obama describing Beau Biden as a public servant who learned through early tragedy what mattered most and as a result decided upon living “a life of meaning” that would inspire those around him.

“He was a scion of an incredible family, who brushed away the possibility of privilege for the harder, better reward of earning his own way,” the president said.

Barack Obama described Beau Biden as a son, a father, a soldier and a politician who refused to take short cuts in his determination to serve his country and others.

He said that a “cruel twist of fate” killed Beau Biden’s mother and infant sister in a car crash four decades ago and left Beau – three years old at the time – and his younger brother Hunter in hospital.

Coldplay singer Chris Martin was a soloist at the service – he volunteered to perform after hearing that Beau Biden liked the band.

Beau Biden was diagnosed with brain cancer in August 2013 and underwent treatment that was initially successful. However, the cancer recurred earlier this year.

Vladimir Putin: “Russia Is Not a Threat to NATO”

Vladimir Putin has dismissed the idea that Russia could attack NATO as “insane”.

In an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera, President Vladimir Putin says Russia is not a threat to NATO.

The Russian president told the publication: “Only an insane person and only in a dream can imagine that Russia would suddenly attack NATO.”

The Western alliance is bolstering its military presence in its eastern European members in response to their fears of Russian threat, following its involvement in the Ukraine conflict.

NATO says that Russia is backing rebels in Ukraine – a claim denied by Moscow.

Photo Kremlin.ru
Photo Kremlin.ru

Three Baltic countries are preparing to ask for a permanent presence of NATO troops on their soil to act as a deterrent to the Russian military.

Six NATO bases are being set up and a 5,000-strong “spearhead” force established.

In his interview with the Italian publication, Vladimir Putin said some countries were “simply taking advantage of people’s fears with regard to Russia” in order to receive “some supplementary military, economic, financial or some other aid”.

“There is no need to fear Russia,” he said.

“The world has changed so drastically that people with some common sense cannot even imagine such a large-scale military conflict today. We have other things to think about, I assure you.”

Heavy fighting has erupted in Ukraine this week, focusing on the towns of Maryinka and Krasnohorivka, west of rebel-held Donetsk.

The opposing sides have accused each other of shattering February’s Minsk ceasefire, requiring them to withdraw heavy weapons from the frontline.

Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko told a news conference on June 5 that Russia had massed troops on the border and in rebel-held areas “in unprecedented numbers” – but Russia again denied that its military was involved in Ukraine.

Petro Poroshenko said Ukraine has deployed 50,000 troops in the conflict zone to meet the threat.

More than 6,400 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine since the conflict began in April 2014, when rebels seized large parts of two eastern regions, following Russia’s annexation of the Crimea peninsula.

The Ukraine crisis is on the agenda of talks of leaders of the most industrialized group of countries – the G7 – beginning on June 7, without Russia – usually its eight member.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc4qnvGxF1U

Rock am Ring 2015: Lightning Injures 33 People at Germany Music Festival

More than thirty people have been hospitalized in Nurburgring, Germany, after two lightning strikes at the Rock am Ring music festival on June 6.

In total, “33 people were placed under observation in nearby hospitals”, police from Rhineland-Palatinate said in a statement.Rock am Ring 2015 lightning

All were reported to be “in good health.”

Tens of thousands of people are expected at the Rock am Ring festival over the weekend, where Foo Fighters are headlining.

Other artists on the line-up include Die Toten Hosen, The Prodigy, Bastille, Jamie T and Slipknot.

Foo Fighters are the headline act for June 7, they are scheduled to be on stage at 22.30.

The Rock am ring festival runs from June 5 to 7.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhzRJcFp1tU

Pope Francis Celebrates Mass at Kosevo Stadium in Sarajevo

Tens of thousands of Catholics have attended a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis at a stadium in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Pope Francis’ visit to Sarajevo is aimed at promoting peace and reconciliation across Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The pontiff is also meeting members of the Muslim, Orthodox Christian and Jewish communities during his one-day trip.

Bosnia remains divided along religious and ethnic lines, 20 years after its civil war which depleted the Catholic population.

“War never again!” Pope Francis urged in his homily before 65,000 worshippers at Sarajevo’s Kosevo stadium.Pope Francis Sarajevo Stadium 2015

He added: “War means children, women and the elderly in refugee camps; it means forced displacement, destroyed houses, streets and factories. Above all countless shattered lives.”

“You know this well having experienced it here,” Pope Francis added in reference to the 1992-19995 Bosnian conflict, which left some 100,000 dead and two million displaced.

Pope Francis also warned that the world faced “a kind of third world war being fought piecemeal and, in the context of global communications, we sense an atmosphere of war”.

The war between Christian Orthodox Serbs and Muslim Bosniaks in the early ‘90s resulted in deep ethnic divisions. There was also a Bosniak-Croat conflict within the wider war.

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Catholics, from the Bosnian Croatian community, are estimated to number 10-15% of the population.

Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said a central aspect of the visit would be boosting the morale of Catholics, many of whom left the country after the conflict.

“In December the 20th anniversary of the war will be remembered but the traces and the wounds of war are still there,” Pietro Parolin told AFP news agency.

Pope Francis was welcomed in Sarajevo by children wearing traditional costume representing Bosnia-Herzegovina’s three main faiths.

The pontiff also spoke to the three-member presidency and called on Bosnia-Herzegovina to reject division and continue working for peace to create “a melody of sublime nobility and beauty, instead of the fanatical cries of hatred”.

Speaking to reporters on his flight to Sarajevo, Pope Francis described Bosnia-Herzegovina’s capital as the “Jerusalem of the West”.