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Kim Jong-un makes first public appearance after 40 days of absence

Diane A. Wade
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Kim Jong-un makes first public appearance after 40 days of absence

Kim Jong-un has made his first public appearance since September 3, the North Korean official news agency says.

The KCNA agency said on October 14 that Kim Jong-un “gave field guidance” at a newly-built scientists’ residential district.

Rodong Sinmun daily newspaper carried several photographs of Kim Jong-un using a walking stick as he inspected the site.

The absence of the North Korean leader had prompted a flurry of speculation about his health.

Some observers said Kim Jong-un, 32, could be suffering from gout or problems in his hip joint. Others even questioned if he remained in control of the state.

Official media have cited unspecified personal “discomfort” as grounds for Kim Jong-un’s absence from public view.

Kim Jong-un has made his first public appearance since September 3 at a newly-built scientists' residential district
Kim Jong-un has made his first public appearance since September 3 at a newly-built scientists’ residential district

KCNA said that Kim Jong-un was briefed on the Wisong Scientists Residential District “before a map showing its bird’s-eye view” and that he then “overlooked it”.

“Looking over the exterior of the apartment houses and public buildings, decorated with diverse colored tiles, [Kim Jong-un] expressed great satisfaction, saying they looked very beautiful,” the agency said.

It also said that Kim Jong-un visited the newly-built Natural Energy Institute of the State Academy of Sciences.

Although the news release was dated October 14, it did not specify on which day he made the visits.

During his absence, Kim Jong-un missed two high-profile public events – the October 10 anniversary of the establishment of the Korean Worker’s Party and the September 9 Foundation Day of the North Korean State.

Analysts said they were two days in the political calendar when the leader would be expected to make an appearance.

Kim Jong-un took office on the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, in December 2011 and was quickly named head of the party, state and army.

In 2012 he was appointed marshal – the highest military rank – following a high-level military reshuffle.

In December 2013, Kim Jong-un purged and executed his uncle, Chang Song-thaek, who state media said had been plotting a coup.

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Catalonia cancels independence referendum

Diane A. Wade
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Catalonia cancels independence referendum

Catalonia’s government has called off plans to push ahead with a contested independence referendum, Spanish media says.

A spokesman for Catalan President Artur Mas said he would be holding a news conference at 08:00 GMT on October 14.

Spain’s government said the November 9 vote was unconstitutional but Catalan’s leaders had vowed to hold it.

Support for independence has increased among the 7.5 million Catalans following Spain’s economic crisis.

On September 19, the regional parliament voted by 106 to 28 in favor of granting Catalan’s president the power to hold a referendum.

Catalonia’s government has called off plans to push ahead with the independence referendum
Catalonia’s government has called off plans to push ahead with the independence referendum

Spain’s central government protested against the move and the Constitutional Court agreed to hear their case against the referendum – a process that could take years.

The pro-independence Catalan government had previously said it was examining legal arguments to persuade the court to lift its suspension of the vote while the case is heard.

However, Joan Herrera, of the Initiative for Catalonia party, told reporters that the regional government had “determined that the consultation can’t take place” after meeting with pro-referendum parties on Monday.

Spanish media said that President Artur Mas was now looking for other mechanisms to consult the public.

Hundreds of thousands of Catalans have protested on the streets in recent weeks, demanding their own vote.

Polls suggest most Catalans favor holding the vote, but are roughly evenly split on independence.

With about 16% of the Spanish population and a distinct language and culture, Catalonia is one of Spain’s richest and most independent-minded regions.

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Queen Elizabeth shows early stages of Alzheimer’s disease?

Nancy Clayson
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Queen Elizabeth shows early stages of Alzheimer’s disease?

Queen Elizabeth II is having health problems as she shows early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a Globe Magazine report.

Queen Elizabeth, 88, has long been subject to rumors and speculation. The same magazine reported late last year that the queen was suffering continuous shortness of breath, and that doctors didn’t really know what was wrong with her.

The report even claimed that the Queen informed Kate Middleton to make sure her funeral arrangements were ready because she could die at any time.

The new report from Globe Magazine says that the queen is actually fighting Alzheimer’s disease.

“The palace is desperately trying to hide the new health crisis Queen Elizabeth is facing–the 88-year-old monarch is reportedly showing the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease,” the magazine reported in the cover story of its October 20 edition.

Queen Elizabeth II is reportedly having health problems as she shows early stages of Alzheimer's disease
Queen Elizabeth II is reportedly having health problems as she shows early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (photo Getty Images)

The Queen has been found wandering “lost and confused” in the palace garden, the tabloid claims.

She also can’t remember the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and she has mistaken her son Prince Charles for her husband Prince Philip, it says.

Sources told the magazine that that queen has multiple symptoms and that some fear that Prince Charles’ wife Camilla Parker-Bowles, with whom the queen reportedly has an ongoing feud, will try to take advantage of the queen’s plight.

The claim that the Queen has Alzheimer’s is unverified, though the royal has acknowledged her failing health recently.

She began handing over power to Prince Charles earlier this year leading up to her birthday, having him take on more head of state-style responsibilities as the Palace starts to make tentative plans for his eventual succession, the Daily Mirror reported.

One sign of the historic “job-share” agreement with Prince Charles, a first for the royals, was the merging of their press offices.

“This is about passing the baton to the next generation. The Prince of Wales’s diary is chock-full. Even he realizes with the best will in the world he can’t go on like that. This is not going to be a sudden shift. It is a gradual process which will be borne out over the next few years. It’s a gentle succession,” one aide said.

“It’s important to note that the Queen is still working very hard. Every day you see her with the red box of Government papers and giving audiences.

“Charles will be doing less of his campaigning and the things he likes to do and more of the head of state role.

“While the Queen is still in excellent health, she is inevitably becoming a little more frail because of her age. Charles and Camilla will be doing much more of the public work on her behalf.” 

Prince Charles and courtiers have been studying the Regency Act, which would enable him to take over the throne even if Queen Elizabeth is still alive.

Britain’s last regency happened in the early 1800s, when King George III’s mental illness left him unable to carry out his duties, prompting his son, George IV, to be given his father’s powers under the Regency Act.

Prince Charles became the longest serving heir to the throne in April 2011, beating Edward VIII’s record of 59 years, two months, and 13 days.

Woolworths pulls racist top tank from Australian stores

Lisa.Felice
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Woolworths pulls racist top tank from Australian stores

Woolworths has removed a top tank bearing a slogan seen by many as racist from supermarket shelves in Australia after it was “inadvertently” stocked.

The singlet with Australia’s flag and the slogan “If you don’t love it, leave” was on sale at two Woolworths stores in Queensland and New South Wales.

A spokesman said Woolworths would review its processes to “ensure this sort of error cannot happen again”.

Racial tensions in Australia have been high after recent terror raids.

Australia has also committed troops to the conflict in the Middle East.

The singlet bearing a slogan seen by many as racist was on sale at two Woolworths stores in Queensland and New South Wales
The singlet bearing a slogan seen by many as racist was on sale at two Woolworths stores in Queensland and New South Wales (photo Twitter)

Woolworths said the garment had been put on sale accidentally.

“It has come to our attention that two Woolworths stores were inadvertently stocking a singlet that we consider totally unacceptable,” the spokesman told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“The singlet was not one we ordered. It was delivered to us in error and should never [have] been allowed on our shelves.

“The sentiment expressed on the singlet does not reflect the views of Woolworths.”

A customer posted a photo of the garment on a social media account and several dozen customers complained after the image went viral.

Si Robertson congratulates nephew John Luke for engagement to Mary Kate McEachran

Sonia Pantiss
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Si Robertson congratulates nephew John Luke for engagement to Mary Kate McEachran

Duck Dynasty’s Si Robertson congratulated his nephew John Luke for his engagement to girlfriend Mary Kate McEacharn.

John Luke Robertson popped the question on his 19th birthday on Saturday, October 11.

He is the eldest son of Korie and Willie Robertson.

John Luke Robertson got engaged to girlfriend Mary Kate McEacharn on his 19th birthday
John Luke Robertson got engaged to girlfriend Mary Kate McEacharn on his 19th birthday (photo Facebook)

Uncle Si Robertson wrote on his Facebook page: “Hey JACK! John Luke found his own Smokin Hot Honey! Congrats to my nephew and soon to be niece!”

“Shakin’ the hand of a newly engaged man! Congrats John Luke Robertson and Mary Kate! #UncleSitheChristmasElf #GreatParty #CrazyFireworks #LoveOurFamily.”

Oscar Pistorius sentencing: Probation officer proposes house arrest and community service

Clyde K. Valle
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Oscar Pistorius sentencing: Probation officer proposes house arrest and community service

Oscar Pistorius should not go to jail over the killing of Reeva Steenkamp, his sentencing hearing has been told.

A probation officer appearing for the defense said Oscar Pistorius should serve house arrest and community service.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel described the suggestion as “shockingly inappropriate”.

Oscar Pistorius, 27, was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Reeva Steenkamp last month – but was cleared of murder.

The decision was criticized by the victim’s family.

Oscar Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail, although Judge Thokozile Masipa may suspend the sentence or impose a fine.

Judge Thokozile Masipa said the Paralympic champion had acted “negligently” when he shot his girlfriend through a toilet door, but had genuinely thought her to be an intruder.

At the sentencing hearing, Joel Maringa, a prison service officer summoned by the defense, said Pistorius should perform community service and receive three years of house arrest rather than imprisonment.

“The accused will benefit from correctional supervision,” Joel Maringa said, adding that this will give him an “opportunity to restructure and modify his behavior”.

Oscar Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail, although Judge Thokozile Masipa may suspend the sentence or impose a fine
Oscar Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail, although Judge Thokozile Masipa may suspend the sentence or impose a fine

“We are basically not saying that he should be destroyed because he will still be coming back into the community,” he said.

Gerrie Nel described Joel Maringa’s suggestions as “shockingly inappropriate”, adding that they would amount to “no sentence”. He questioned whether Joel Maringa understood the gravity of Oscar Pistorius’ crime.

Reeva Steenkamp’s father, Barry, held his head in his hands as Joel Maringa spoke, while her friends shook their heads in disbelief.

The sentencing hearing, which has now been adjourned, is expected to last several days.

Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius are hoping they can prevent a jail sentence.

His psychologist, Lore Hartzenberg, was the first defense witness to speak at the sentencing hearing.

She described Oscar Pistorius as a “broken man” after the killing. She said he was “very emotional” during grief therapy sessions, which were often disrupted by his weeping and retching.

Gerrie Nel said it was “very strange” that Lore Hartzenberg was “avoiding” answering questions about Oscar Pistorius having a new relationship.

Lore Hartzenberg said Oscar Pistorius had never mentioned a new girlfriend in the therapy sessions. She said she had only heard about the relationship from reports in the press.

The Paralympic sprinter had strenuously denied murdering Reeva Steenkamp after a row on Valentine’s Day in 2013, saying he shot her by mistake.

Reeva Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Oscar Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria.

The parents of Reeva Steenkamp said “justice was not served” after Oscar Pistorius was acquitted of murder.

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Jessica Chubbs Shannon celebrates 18th birthday

Lisa.Felice
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Jessica Chubbs Shannon celebrates 18th birthday

Honey Boo Boo’s older sister, Jessica “Chubbs” Shannon, celebrated her 18th birthday on October 10.

The Here Comes Honey Boo Boo star is in the first year of college and she had a boyfriend Philip but they broke up.

Jessica sisters are Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, Lauryn “Pumpkin” Shannon and Anna “Chickadee” Shannon.

Honey Boo Boo’s older sister, Jessica "Chubbs" Shannon, celebrated her 18th birthday on October 10
Honey Boo Boo’s older sister, Jessica “Chubbs” Shannon, celebrated her 18th birthday on October 10 (photo Facebook)

She was the maid of honor at Anna’s wedding.

Honey Boo Boo’s Facebook page read on Jessica’s birthday: “Happiest of birthdays to Jessica! Here’s hoping you feel like a princess on your big day!”

John Luke Robertson engaged to Mary Kate McEacharn

Sonia Pantiss
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John Luke Robertson engaged to Mary Kate McEacharn

Duck Dynasty’s John Luke Robertson, son of Willie and Korie Robertson, is engaged to girlfriend Mary Kate McEacharn.

John Luke Robertson proposed on his 19th birthday on Saturday, October 11.

Mary Kate McEacharn posted on her Instagram page late on Saturday a photo showing her flashing a sparkling engagement ring and her new fiancé holding a sign that reads: “Future Mrs. Robertson.”

“Happy Birthday to the boy I’m going to marry,” she wrote.

John Luke Robertson has announced his engagement to girlfriend Mary Kate McEacharn
John Luke Robertson has announced his engagement to girlfriend Mary Kate McEacharn (photo Instagram)

John Luke Robeertson shared the same photo.

The Duck Dynasty star and Mary Kate McEacharn both attended Ouachita Christian School in Monroe, Louisiana. She is currently in college.

They began dating around March and have traveled abroad together.

Mary Kate McEacharn also tweeted on October 12: “Happy Birthday to this hottie ..knew you were the one since day one JL.”

John Luke Robertson is the eldest son of the five children of Willie and Korie Robertson and grandson of Phil and Miss Kay Robertson.

Korie and Willie Robertson wed in 1992 when she was 18 and he was 19.

Kmart hit by credit card data theft

Clyde K. Valle
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Kmart hit by credit card data theft

Kmart discount chain, the latest victim of hacker attacks on retailers, said it detected a security breach last week and is investigating the incident with law enforcement officials.

Cash registers at 1,200 Kmart stores were infected with malware that scooped up payment card numbers for over a month, reports the retailer.

In a statement, Kmart said the security breach was discovered on October 9 and that the malware had been operating since early September.

An initial investigation suggests the cyber-thieves stole credit and debit card numbers.

So far, it is not clear how many cards and customers have been affected.

In its statement, Kmart said no personal information, pin codes, email addresses or social security numbers were taken with the card numbers.

Kmart has become the latest victim of hacker attacks on retailers
Kmart has become the latest victim of hacker attacks on retailers

The malware has now been removed and the breach contained, Kmart said, but it was continuing its investigation to gauge its full impact.

It added that there was no evidence that any of the card numbers stolen were being used to create counterfeit cards and land victims with bills for items they did not buy.

Despite this, Kmart said it would be offering free credit monitoring protection for customers to ensure any fraudulent use of their cards did not affect their credit score.

The US Secret Service, which leads investigations into financial fraud, is known to be investigating the case.

“I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our members and customers,” said Alasdair James, president of Kmart, in the statement.

News about the Kmart breach comes soon after the Dairy Queen restaurant chain revealed that some of its outlets across 46 states were hit by hackers. Malware was used to steal names, card numbers and expiration dates of payment cards at 395 restaurants.

Many large US stores have been hit by attackers that target till systems in recent months. The largest attack was against Target in which thieves stole details of 40 million payment cards.

Shawn Henry, a former FBI officer, who is now head of security firm CrowdStrike Services, said retailers needed to do a better job of detecting breaches quickly before large numbers of payment data was stolen.

The computer networks of retailers were so large that attackers were more than likely to find a way in, he told Reuters.

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Jean Tirole wins Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences 2014

Clyde K. Valle
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Jean Tirole wins Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences 2014

Jean Tirole has won the 2014 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his work on market power and regulation, and his work taming powerful companies.

Staffan Normark, permanent secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, announced that the French economics professor had won the final prize of the 2014 Nobels at a ceremony on October 13.

“Jean Tirole is one of the most influential economists of our time,” the Academy said.

Jean Tirole, of Toulouse University, won for his work on market power and regulation, and his work taming powerful firms.

He said he was “honored” and “moved” by being given the prize.

The Academy said: “From the mid-1980s and onwards, Jean Tirole has breathed new life into research on … market failures. His analysis of firms with market power provides a unified theory with a strong bearing on central policy questions: how should the government deal with mergers or cartels, and how should it regulate monopolies?”

Jean Tirole has won the 2014 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his work on market power and regulation
Jean Tirole has won the 2014 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his work on market power and regulation

Before Jean Tirole, researchers and policymakers sought general principles for all industries, the Academy said.

“Tirole showed theoretically that such rules may work well in certain conditions, but do more harm than good in others. Price caps can provide dominant firms with strong motives to reduce costs – a good thing for society – but may also permit excessive profits – a bad thing for society. Cooperation on price setting within a market is usually harmful, but cooperation regarding patent pools can benefit everyone. The merger of a firm and its supplier may encourage innovation, but may also distort competition.”

The best regulation or competition policy should therefore be carefully adapted to every industry’s specific conditions, the Academy said.

“In a series of articles and books, Jean Tirole has presented a general framework for designing such policies and applied it to a number of industries, ranging from telecommunications to banking. Drawing on these new insights, governments can better encourage powerful firms to become more productive and, at the same time, prevent them from harming competitors and customers.”

The economics prize – whose formal name is the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel – was created in 1968, while the physics, chemistry, physiology, literature and peace prizes were first awarded in 1901.

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Susan Mellen exonerated in Richard Daly murder case after spending 17 years in prison

Nancy Clayson
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Susan Mellen exonerated in Richard Daly murder case after spending 17 years in prison

Susan Mellen, who spent 17 years in prison after being convicted of murder in the death of a homeless man, was exonerated on October 10 by a Los Angeles County judge who said she should not spend another minute behind bars.

The courtroom burst into applause after Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold overturned the conviction of Susan Mellen, who was to be processed for release from the suburban Torrance courthouse.

Susan Mellen had entered the courtroom in tears, and her children also wept.

The judge said that in her case the justice system failed and she had inadequate representation by her attorney at trial.

Susan Mellen’s case was investigated by Deidre O’Connor, head of a project known as Innocence Matters that seeks to free people who are wrongly convicted.

Deidre O’Connor said in an earlier interview that she found that Susan Mellen was convicted of the 1997 killing of Richard Daly based solely on the testimony of a notorious liar.

Susan Mellen's case was investigated by Deidre O'Connor, head of a project known as Innocence Matters that seeks to free people who are wrongly convicted
Susan Mellen’s case was investigated by Deidre O’Connor, head of a project known as Innocence Matters that seeks to free people who are wrongly convicted (photo AP)

Susan Mellen, a mother of three, was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.

The witness who claimed she heard Susan Mellen confess was June Patti, who had a long history of giving false tips to law enforcement, according to documents in the case. June Patti died in 2006.

Three gang members subsequently were linked to the crime, and one was convicted of the killing. Another took a polygraph test and said he was present at the bludgeon killing of Richard Daly, and Susan Mellen was not there.

In a habeas corpus petition, Deidre O’Connor said the police detective who arrested Susan Mellen was also responsible for a case in 1994 that resulted in the convictions of two men ultimately exonerated by innocence projects.

It said the primary evidence against Reggie Cole and Obie Anthony was the false testimony of an informant who avoided prosecution for other charges in exchange for his help.

Susan Mellen’s youngest children were 7 and 9 when she was arrested.

One of the daughters was honored by Innocence Matters for bravery in obtaining a confession that helped to prove her mother’s innocence, Deidre O’Connor said.

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Yo Picasso: 1901 Pablo Picasso self-portrait goes on public display in London

Sonia Pantiss
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Yo Picasso: 1901 Pablo Picasso self-portrait goes on public display in London

An unseen Pablo Picasso self-portrait from 1901 will go on display in central London from Tuesday, October 14.

Yo Picasso depicts the Spanish artist and sculptor at the age of 20, looking directly at the viewer while painting by candlelight.

The piece will be displayed alongside a 1969 self-portrait by Francis Bacon and works by Geoff Koons and Damien Hirst.

The Self exhibition runs until December 13 at the Ordovas gallery.

Yo Picasso depicts the Spanish artist and sculptor at the age of 20, looking directly at the viewer while painting by candlelight
Yo Picasso depicts the Spanish artist and sculptor at the age of 20, looking directly at the viewer while painting by candlelight

Francis Bacon’s self-portrait, one of his first studies of a single head, has not been publicly exhibited in London for almost 50 years.

Geoff Koons’ contribution, dating from 1991, comprises a white marble bust atop a base of crystalline shapes.

The exhibition also includes Damien Hirst’s With Dead Head, a photograph of the British artist in 1992 posing with the head of a corpse.

According to gallery owner Pilar Ordovas, it was Damien Hirst who suggested the exhibition’s title and that Geoff Koons be invited to participate.

Gone Girl tops US box office for second weekend in a row

Sonia Pantiss
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Gone Girl tops US box office for second weekend in a row

Ben Affleck’s Gone Girl has topped the US box office for a second weekend in a row.

Dracula Untold came on second place, taking $23.4 million, less than Gone Girl‘s second weekend haul of $26.8 million.

Steve Carell’s family comedy Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, made its debut at three with $19.1 million.

Horror film Annabelle claimed fourth place, with The Judge in fifth.

Ben Affleck's Gone Girl has topped the US box office for a second weekend in a row
Ben Affleck’s Gone Girl has topped the US box office for a second weekend in a row

Starring Robert Downey Jr. as a successful lawyer who has to defend his estranged father, a veteran judge played by Godfather actor Robert Duvall, it earned $13.3 million in its opening weekend.

Annabelle, starring Peaky Blinders actress Annabelle Wallis, tells of a couple who experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll.

The film, a prequel to 2013 hit The Conjuring, spooked audiences into giving up $16.4 million in its second weekend on release.

Gone Girl stars Ben Affleck as a writer who becomes a suspect when his wife, played by Rosamund Pike, goes missing.

Since opening the US last week, David Fincher’s adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s best-selling novel has earned $78.3 million.

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Ebola outbreak: Liberian medical staff on national strike over risk fee

Kathryn R. Bown
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Ebola outbreak: Liberian medical staff on national strike over risk fee

Liberian nurses and medical assistants are on national strike, as the Ebola epidemic continues in the country.

The National Health Workers Association wants an increase in the monthly risk fee paid to those treating Ebola cases.

In the US, President Barack Obama has directed more steps to be taken to ensure high safety procedures when dealing with suspected Ebola patients.

A health worker treating an Ebola victim has herself caught the virus.

Liberia’s Assistant Health Minister Tolbert Nyenswah said a strike would have negative consequences on those suffering from Ebola and would adversely affect progress made so far in the fight against the disease.

The government says the scale of the epidemic means it now cannot afford the risk fee originally agreed.

Liberia’s National Health Workers Association wants an increase in the monthly risk fee paid to those treating Ebola cases
Liberia’s National Health Workers Association wants an increase in the monthly risk fee paid to those treating Ebola cases

The risk fee is currently less than $500 a month, on top of basic salaries of between $200 and $300. Staff is now seeking a risk fee of $700 a month.

The health workers also want personal protective equipment and insurance.

Ninety-five of their colleagues have so far died from Ebola. Liberia is one of the countries worst affected by the epidemic.

More than 4,000 people have so far died in the Ebola outbreak.

A new UN centre to co-ordinate the fight against the epidemic is being set up in Ghana.

Six months after the epidemic began in west Africa there are still only about a quarter of the treatment beds required to tackle it.

Food is now in short supply as markets are disrupted in some parts of the three countries worst affected: Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

In Liberia, elections have been postponed because the gathering of people at polling stations would endanger lives.

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Oscar Pistorius sentencing begins in Pretoria court

Clyde K. Valle
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Oscar Pistorius sentencing begins in Pretoria court

Oscar Pistorius has returned to Pretoria court for sentencing after being convicted of killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Oscar Pistorius, 27, was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Reeva Steenkamp last month but he was cleared of murder.

His psychologist was the first defense witness to speak at the sentencing hearing, which could last several days.

Oscar Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail, although Judge Thokozile Masipa may suspend the sentence or impose a fine.

Thokozile Masipa said the South African athlete had acted “negligently” when he shot Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet door, but in the “belief that there was an intruder”.

Oscar Pistorius had strenuously denied murdering Reeva Steenkamp after a row on Valentine’s Day 2013, saying he shot her by mistake.

Reeva Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Oscar Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria.

Oscar Pistorius has returned to Pretoria court for sentencing after being convicted of killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius has returned to Pretoria court for sentencing after being convicted of killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorius’ personal psychologist Lore Hartzenberg told the courtroom on Monday, October 13, that the Paralympic champion was “very emotional” during grief therapy sessions, which were often disrupted by his weeping and crying.

Lore Hartzenberg said the athlete felt “vilified and humiliated” by the media and social media networks, making him feel “utterly worthless”.

Judge hokozile Masipa is to hear legal arguments and testimony from a number of witnesses before passing sentence.

The judge said the state had failed to prove he intended to kill.

Oscar Pistorius, who has been on bail since the verdict, was also found guilty on a charge of negligently handling a firearm that went off in a restaurant.

He was acquitted of another charge of firing a gun in public, through the sunroof of a car, and of illegal possession of ammunition in the home where he killed Reeva Steenkamp.

The parents of Reeva Steenkamp said “justice was not served” after Oscar Pistorius was acquitted of murder.

June and Barry Steenkamp told NBC News of their “disbelief” that the court had believed Oscar Pistorius’ version of events.

Earlier, Arnold Pistorius, the athlete’s uncle, said the family was “deeply grateful” to the judge for finding him not guilty of murder and that a “big burden” had been lifted.

South Africa’s prosecuting authority said it was “disappointed” that Oscar Pistorius was not convicted of murder but said it would wait until after sentencing to decide whether to appeal.

Despite the conviction, the International Paralympic Committee has said Oscar Pistorius would be allowed to compete in future events.

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Bolivia elections 2014: President Evo Morales wins third term in office

Diane A. Wade
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Bolivia elections 2014: President Evo Morales wins third term in office

Evo Morales is claiming a third term in office win in Bolivia’s presidential elections.

“This win is a triumph for anti-imperialists and anti-colonialists,” Evo Morales told cheering supporters at the presidential palace in La Paz.

Exit polls show Evo Morales on 60%, well ahead of his rivals, as votes are counted.

To avoid a run-off, Evo Morales must win 50% of valid votes, or 40% if that includes a 10-point lead over his nearest rival.

Evo Morales has overseen strong economic growth since taking office in 2006 and has been widely tipped to win.

He has presided over a period of economic growth and reduced poverty, using Bolivia’s commodity wealth to reduce poverty levels.

However, he has been criticized for failing to halt corruption.

Evo Morales’s party, the Movement Toward Socialism, is also expected to make gains and win a strong majority in Congress.

The poll passed without major incident, according to the electoral authorities and foreign observers.

Evo Morales has overseen strong economic growth since taking office in 2006
Evo Morales has overseen strong economic growth since taking office in 2006

Since 2006, Evo Morales’s government has focused on education subsidies, increased pensions and spending on public works.

He has been boosted by a boom in commodities prices that has helped propel export revenues nine-fold.

The revenue has helped fund policies that have created an average annual economic growth of 5%, well above the regional average.

It has also funded public works projects, including a cable car system for the capital, La Paz.

Some 500,000 people have been taken out of poverty.

The oil, gas, mining, telecommunications and water sectors have all been nationalized.

Evo Morales’s critics say he has introduced measures which are harmful to the environment and presided over a corrupt administration.

He is also accused of using millions of dollars in government cash to fund his re-election campaign and that this has helped create a fractured opposition.

Heading into the elections, Samuel Doria Medina was Evo Morales’ closest rival.

Samuel Doria Medina vowed to clean up the judiciary if elected.

Evo Morales will want to maintain his two-thirds control of Bolivia’s Senate and assembly, which are also holding elections.

This could allow him to alter the constitution to permit a fourth term in office.

Evo Morales has already benefited from a court ruling that permitted him to run for a third term.

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John Luke Robertson celebrates 19th birthday

Sonia Pantiss
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John Luke Robertson celebrates 19th birthday

Duck Dynasty’s John Luke Robertson celebrated his 19th birthday with his family on October 11.

John Luke Robertson is the eldest son of the five children of Korie and Willie, the latter of which is one of Phil and Miss Kay’s four children.

His father, Willie Robertson, tweeted on his birthday: “19 years ago I welcomed my first son @John316Luke923 into the world!”

“Happy Birthday big boy. The worlds a better place with u in it.”

At his birthday party with the family, John Luke Robertson proposed to his girlfriend Mary Kate McEacharn.

His mother, Korie Robertson, tweeted her congratulations to their son over the engagement news.

John Luke Robertson is the eldest son of the five children of Korie and Willie
John Luke Robertson is the eldest son of the five children of Korie and Willie (photo Facebook)

“Yes, it’s true @John316Luke923 proposed to this beauty @MaryKateMcE last night!” she said.

“We couldn’t be more excited!! #love”

Mary Kate McEacharn posted on her Instagram page on October 11 a photo showing her flashing a sparkling engagement ring and her new fiancé holding a sign that reads: “Future Mrs. Robertson.”

“Happy Birthday to the boy I’m going to marry,” Mary Kate McEacharn wrote.

John Luke Robertson shared the same photo writing: “She. Said. Yes. @missmarymcmcmc.”

Korie and Willie Robertson wed in 1992 when she was 18 and he was 19.

Ferguson October protests: At least 17 people arrested in St Louis

Nancy Clayson
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Ferguson October protests: At least 17 people arrested in St Louis

At least 17 people have been arrested in St Louis, Missouri, during a weekend of planned protests against police shootings.

Demonstrators were held for unlawful assembly after staging a sit-in outside a convenience store early on Sunday, October 12.

Thousands of people in Missouri have taken part in rallies and vigils as part of a four-day event named Ferguson October.

Weeks of protests have been sparked by the killing of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson.

Several demonstrators gathered outside a QuikTrip petrol station and convenience store in St Louis on Sunday morning, refusing to disperse.

Riot police used pepper spray to clear the protest.

Thousands of people in Missouri have taken part in rallies and vigils as part of a four-day event named Ferguson October
Thousands of people in Missouri have taken part in rallies and vigils as part of a four-day event named Ferguson October

St Louis police chief Sam Dotson said on his Twitter account that the protesters were “attempting to storm” the store and had thrown rocks at police officers.

Protesters denied throwing rocks at the police.

A QuikTrip store in Ferguson was wrecked during violent protests in the aftermath of Michael Brown’s killing, and later became a gathering point for protesters.

Tensions in St Louis are also high after another black teenager, Vonderrit D. Myers, was shot dead by a police officer on Wednesday.

Police said 18-year-old Vonderrit D. Myers shot at an officer, but the victim’s parents say he was unarmed and racially profiled.

Ferguson October began on Friday, October 10, when hundreds of demonstrators lined up outside the office of the local prosecutor, Robert McCulloch.

Demonstrators chanted slogans calling for Robert McCulloch to charge Darren Wilson, the officer who shot Michael Brown in August.

On October 11, there was a peaceful march through the centre of St Louis to the Keiner Plaza park. The crowd was larger than the day before, according to the Associated Press.

“This isn’t going to stop until there is change with police and black youth,” Tory Russell, one of the protest organizers, said.

Protest organizers said the weekend of events was intended “to build momentum for a nationwide movement against police violence”.

“We are here to bring peace, to bring restoration, to lift our banners in the name of those who’ve been sacrificed,” said another protest organizer, Montague Simmons.

Planned events include street protests as well as a music event and a day of “civil disobedience”.

Organizers have urged people from across the US to attend.

A US justice department investigation into the shooting of Michael Brown in August is continuing.

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CDC: Texas hospital breach of protocol led to second US Ebola case

Kathryn R. Bown
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CDC: Texas hospital breach of protocol led to second US Ebola case

Dr. Tom Frieden, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has said a mistake was “clearly” made by staff treating Thomas Eric Duncan who died of Ebola in Texas, resulting in one being infected.

The female health worker infected is in an isolation ward in stable condition, awaiting confirmation of her diagnosis.

Tom Frieden said a full inquiry would be made into how the transmission occurred.

He said 48 other people who may also have had contact were being observed.

The health worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital wore full protective gear while treating Ebola victim Thomas Eric Duncan, health officials in Dallas say.

Thomas Eric Duncan, who caught the virus in his native Liberia, died on October 8.

The current Ebola outbreak, concentrated in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, has resulted in more than 8,300 confirmed and suspected cases, and at least 4,033 deaths.

Dr. Thomas Frieden said a full investigation would be conducted into how the infection had occurred.

A female health worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital has been infected with Ebola virus after treating Thomas Eric Duncan
A female health worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital has been infected with Ebola virus after treating Thomas Eric Duncan

“Clearly there was a breach in protocol,” he told CBS.

The CDC investigation, he told reporters, would focus on possible breaches made during two “high-risk procedures”, dialysis and respiratory intubation.

Education and training of health workers would be stepped up, he said, and efforts would be made to reduce the number of staff treating Ebola cases.

Dr. Daniel Varga, of the Texas Health Resource, said the health worker had worn a gown, gloves, mask and shield when providing care to Thomas Eric Duncan during his second and final hospital admission.

Following a positive preliminary test for Ebola, follow-up tests on the infected health worker are due to be completed on Sunday, October 12.

Police are guarding the apartment complex where the woman lives in Dallas as decontamination work is carried out.

No details of her identity or position at the hospital have been given, in accordance with family wishes.

Thomas Eric Duncan tested positive in Dallas on September 30, 10 days after arriving on a flight from Monrovia via Brussels.

He had become ill a few days after arriving in the US, and went to the hospital in Dallas with a high fever.

However, despite telling medical staff he had been in Liberia, Thomas Eric Duncan was sent home with painkillers and antibiotics.

Thomas Eric Duncan was later put into an isolation unit at the hospital but died despite being given an experimental drug.

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Robert Redford to receive Lifetime Achievement Award from Lincoln Center Film Society

Sonia Pantiss
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Robert Redford to receive Lifetime Achievement Award from Lincoln Center Film Society

Robert Redford will receive Chaplin Award, a lifetime achievement award from New York’s Film Society of Lincoln Centre.

Robert Redford’s career highlights will be celebrated at a gala in New York in April 2015.

The society, which organizes the annual New York Film Festival, said that Robert Redford’s “impact is hard to measure in many ways”.

Recent Chaplin Award recipients include Barbra Streisand and Nicole Kidman.

Robert Redford’s career highlights will be celebrated at a gala in New York in April 2015
Robert Redford’s career highlights will be celebrated at a gala in New York in April 2015

The honor is given to the movie industry’s most notable talents, and has also lauded Martin Scorsese, Alfred Hitchcock and Charlie Chaplin, after whom the award is named.

Charlie Chaplin was the first recipient in 1972, while last year’s winner was director Rob Reiner.

Lesli Klainberg, the film society’s executive director, said that Robert Redford’s contribution as an actor has been significant, but also pinpointed his work as founder of the Sundance Film Festival.

“Without the Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival, we’d likely have a different industry. And they continue to have a huge impact,” she said.

“Obviously he’s a star that many of us have grown up watching from his films in the early ’60s to his current work.

“I happen to think he’s also had some of the greatest co-stars ever, from Natalie Wood to Faye Dunaway, Barbra Streisand, and, of course, his great bromance with Paul Newman,” added Lesli Klainberg.

Cyclone Hudhud hits India prompting evacuation of 300,000 people

Diane A. Wade
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Cyclone Hudhud hits India prompting evacuation of 300,000 people

Cyclone Hudhud has hit the eastern Indian coast, causing extensive damage and prompting the evacuation of some 300,000 people.

The cyclone, classed “very severe” and bringing winds of up to 120mph, is expected to make landfall soon near the city of Visakhapatnam.

Hundreds of trees have been uprooted and power lines brought down in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa states.

Two people have so far been reported killed in Andhra Pradesh.

It is feared a storm surge of up to two meters could inundate low-lying areas and hundreds of relief centers have been opened in the two states. Disaster relief teams have also been sent.

The authorities say the next five to six hours will be crucial.

The strength of the cyclone has been revised upwards since October 10, and the Indian Navy is on standby to assist.

The two deaths occurred in separate incidents in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district, the state’s disaster management department said.

Hundreds of thousands of people are evacuated as Cyclone Hudhud pounds the eastern Indian coast
Hundreds of thousands of people are evacuated as Cyclone Hudhud pounds the eastern Indian coast

One was killed by a falling wall and the other by a tree.

The streets of Visakhapatnam, one of the largest cities in south-east India and home to a major naval base, remain largely deserted.

K Hymavathi, the special commissioner for disaster management for Andhra Pradesh state, said: “Hundreds of trees have been uprooted and power lines knocked down.”

He added: “The situation is very severe. The national highway in the region has been shut.”

In its latest report, the India Meteorological Department said sea conditions would become “phenomenal” off the north Andhra Pradesh and south Orissa coasts.

It also warned that a storm surge of up to two metres would “inundate low-lying areas of Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam”.

Pradeep Kumar Mohapatra, a special relief commissioner, said that authorities were ready.

“The administration is fully geared,” he said.

“The collectors [senior government officials] have been given total clearance to take up any evacuation wherever necessary for vulnerable areas which are likely to be inundated.”

A super-cyclone in 1999 killed more than 10,000 people in Orissa.

India’s eastern coast and Bangladesh are routinely hit by cyclonic storms between April and November which cause deaths and widespread damage to property.

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UN: Ebola outbreak can be brought under control within three months

Kathryn R. Bown
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UN: Ebola outbreak can be brought under control within three months

Dr. David Nabarro, the UN’s senior system coordinator for Ebola, says he hopes that the outbreak can be brought under control within three months.

People were becoming aware that isolating those infected was the best way to prevent transmission, he added.

So far, there have been more than 8,300 confirmed and suspected cases of Ebola, and at least 4,033 deaths.

Most fatalities – 4,024 – have occurred in the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Cases have also been reported in Nigeria, Senegal, Spain and the US.

In a recent interview, David Nabarro said that the number of new cases was “quite frightening”, as the spread of the disease was currently accelerating.

At the beginning, many West African communities did not understand that the outbreak was an infectious disease, David Nabarro said.

So far, there have been more than 8,300 confirmed and suspected cases of Ebola, and at least 4,033 deaths
So far, there have been more than 8,300 confirmed and suspected cases of Ebola, and at least 4,033 deaths

“I think we’ve got much better community involvement [now] which leads me to believe that getting it under control within the next three months is a reasonable target,” he told BBC.

“By under control I mean… the numbers of new cases each week diminishes compared with the previous week to the point where there is no new transmission.”

The Ebola virus is spread by direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or animal.

Meanwhile, New York’s JFK airport began screening passengers from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea for the Ebola virus on Saturday, in an attempt to stem the outbreak.

Passengers from those countries will have their temperatures taken and have to answer a series of questions.

Checks at O’Hare in Chicago, Newark, Washington’s Dulles and Atlanta’s airport will begin in the coming days.

The screening system is being introduced after Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the US, died in Texas on October 8.

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Mexico: Iguala bodies not all of missing students

Diane A. Wade
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Mexico: Iguala bodies not all of missing students

Mexican authorities say that some bodies found in shallow graves near the town of Iguala are not those of students missing after clashes with police.

The 43 students were last seen being pushed into police vans after a protest in Guerrero state on September 26.

“I can say that some of the bodies, according to the work of forensics experts, do not correspond to the youths,” said Governor Angel Aguirre.

Prosecutors believe police turned over the students to a drug gang.

The gang was linked to the family of Iguala’s Mayor Jose Luis Abarca Velazquez.

He, his wife and his head of security went on leave after the clashes and have not reappeared.

A formal search has been launched for them.

The 43 students were last seen being pushed into police vans after a protest in Guerrero state on September 26
The 43 students were last seen being pushed into police vans after a protest in Guerrero state on September 26

Angel Aguirre has promised new developments in the investigation over the next few days.

“I have big hopes of finding our young students alive. That is why we have now entered a new phase in the search for them,” he said.

The clandestine graves were located in the outskirts of Iguala following an anonymous tip off.

Twenty-eight burnt bodies were retrieved from the pits. Forensic experts are still working to identify all of them, said Angel Aguirre.

The students all attended a local teacher training college with a history of left-wing activism.

Six students were killed in two separate shooting incidents during the protests in Iguala, which lies some 120 miles south of the capital, Mexico City.

However, it is not clear whether they were targeted for their political beliefs.

Some think that they may have angered a local drug gang called Guerreros Unidos by refusing to pay extortion money.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets across Mexico to demand government action to locate the students.

President Enrique Pena Nieto went on national television to promise to identify and punish those responsible for the disappearance.

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Typhoon Vongfong causes flight cancelations and power cuts in Japan

Diane A. Wade
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Typhoon Vongfong causes flight cancelations and power cuts in Japan

Typhoon Vongfong brought heavy rain and fierce winds to the southern island of Okinawa, Japan, causing flight cancelations and power cuts to over 20,000 homes.

Officials have said the powerful typhoon will be the strongest storm to hit Japan this year.

Typhoon Vongfong is now heading north and is expected to make landfall on Kyushu island on Monday.

Earlier this week, typhoon Phanfone killed nine people in Japan.

Officials have warned Vongfong could bring high waves, storm surges, flooding and landslides.

Storm tracking website Tropical Storm Risk shows Vongfong losing power over the next few days, as it moves northeast along the rest of Japan.

It is said to be carrying winds up to 145mph, but is moving north slowly, at 10mph.

Japan is bracing for the arrival of powerful Typhoon Vongfong
Japan is bracing for the arrival of powerful Typhoon Vongfong

At least 14 people in Okinawa and Kyushu have already been injured by the strong winds, local reports say.

On October 10, an official from Japan’s Meteorological Agency told Reuters news agency: “There is no question that [Vongfong] is an extremely large, extremely powerful typhoon.

“It’s the strongest storm we’ve had this year, definitely, although it has lost some strength from its peak.”

It has picked up strength since it went through several South Pacific islands including Guam.

The Associated Press news agency said it caused little damage on those islands. It had caused brief power outages and there were no reports of deaths or injuries.

Last week parts of Japan were hit by Typhoon Phanfone, though that storm had rapidly lost power by the time it hit Tokyo on Monday.

Japan’s Kyodo news agency said nine people are now known to have been killed by Phanfone, including three US military servicemen in Okinawa who were washed out to sea. Their bodies have since been recovered.

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Vladimir Putin orders withdrawal of Russian troops stationed near Ukrainian border

Roy Siemens
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Vladimir Putin orders withdrawal of Russian troops stationed near Ukrainian border

President Vladimir Putin has ordered thousands of Russian troops stationed near the Ukrainian border to return to their bases, Russian media report.

Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said about 17,600 soldiers on training exercises in the Rostov region would be pulled back.

Russia has previously announced troop withdrawals that NATO and the US say were not actually carried out.

It has been accused of supplying troops and weapons to separatist rebels in east Ukraine – claims it denies.

The latest order comes ahead of a planned meeting between Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Friday, October 17.

Ukrainian troops have been fighting pro-Russia rebels in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk since April, in a conflict that has killed more than 3,500 people.

The two sides agreed a truce on September 5, but fighting has continued, especially in and around Donetsk.

President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian troops stationed near the Ukrainian border to return to their bases
President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian troops stationed near the Ukrainian border to return to their bases (photo Reuters)

“[Vladimir] Putin has ordered to start the returning of troops to regular station,” presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in quotes carried by Interfax and Ria Novosti news agencies.

Dmitry Peskov said this was because the period of training was completed.

Vladimir Putin made similar statements about withdrawing troops from the Ukrainian border in March and May.

However, NATO and US officials said they saw no evidence of soldiers being moved.

Correspondents say the deployment of Russian troops on Ukraine’s border is seen as a powerful tool designed to threaten the government in Kiev.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko are expected to meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Italy on October 17.

President Petro Poroshenko told reporters: “I don’t expect the talks will be easy.”

“Russia’s role in the issue of providing peace… is difficult to overestimate,” he added.

Petro Poroshenko said he also hoped to discuss Russia and Ukraine’s gas pricing dispute.

Russia cut off gas supplies to Ukraine in June, saying the Kiev government had not settled its debts.

Ukraine could face gas shortages in the winter if the dispute is not resolved.

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