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Brazil elections 2014: Presidential candidates in first TV debate

Diane A. Wade
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Brazil elections 2014: Presidential candidates in first TV debate

Brazil’s presidential candidates have taken part in the first TV debate of the campaign.

Incumbent President Dilma Rousseff faced her main rivals Marina Silva of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) and Aecio Neves of the PSDB.

Dilma Rousseff is ahead in the polls for the October 5 election but analysts predict it will go to a second round.

Marina Silva has replaced the former PSB candidate Eduardo Campos, who died in a plane crash earlier this month.

In the much-anticipated debate, President Dilama Rousseff defended her government’s popular social programs but blamed the international economic crisis for the country’s slowing economy.

Marina Silva spoke passionately about the need for widespread political reform and to remove power from the hands of traditional elites.

The latest opinion polls in Brazilian media on Tuesday showed Marina Silva had narrowed Dilma Rousseff’s lead to 34%, down from 38% in early August.

It gave Marina Silva 29% of voter support and Aecio Neves 19%.

Brazil's presidential candidates have taken part in the first TV debate of the campaign
Brazil’s presidential candidates have taken part in the first TV debate of the campaign (photo AFP)

The poll, published by O Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3%.

Tuesday’s televised debate also includes candidates Eduardo Jorge (PV), Levy Fidelix (PRTB), Luciana Genro (PSOL) and Pastor Everaldo (PSC).

Dilma Rousseff is seeking re-election with the Workers’ Party (PT).

Marina Silva used to be a member of the PT during the government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, but has since become a stern critic.

A former environment minister, Marina Silva ran for president in 2010 for the tiny Green Party and secured 19 million votes, but was knocked out in the first round.

Marina Silva decided to run for vice-president alongside Eduardo Campos after the Electoral Court in October 2013 refused to register her political movement, Rede Sustentabilidade (The Sustainability Network).

However, Marina Silva was appointed as the PSB’s main candidate after his sudden death.

Eduardo Campos died after a private jet crashed in bad weather in the port city of Santos, Sao Paulo state, while travelling from Rio de Janeiro to the seaside resort of Guaruja.

Brazil’s presidential election will go to a second round later in October if no candidate gets more than 50% of the votes.

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China violates Taiwan’s airspace

Roy Siemens
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China violates Taiwan’s airspace

Two Chinese Y-8 maritime patrol planes violated Taiwan’s airspace on August 25, officials said, causing Taiwan to scramble jets.

Taiwan said the Chinese military aircraft entered the island’s ADIZ (air defense identification zone) in both the morning and the afternoon.

Taiwan scrambled planes which “followed them closely to make sure they left”, an air force spokesman said.

The alleged incident came days after the US accused a Chinese plane of dangerous maneuvers near its aircraft.

Washington said the Chinese aircraft came within 10 meters of a US Navy patrol plane over international waters off Hainan Island on August 19.

China described the claims as “groundless”, saying the pilot’s conduct was “professional”.

Chinese Y-8 maritime patrol planes violated Taiwan’s airspace on August 25
Chinese Y-8 maritime patrol planes violated Taiwan’s airspace on August 25

In the latest incident, Taiwan said the two Chinese planes violated its airspace twice each as they flew towards the South China Sea and back.

Mirage 2000-5s and Indigenous Defense Fighters were scrambled in response, officials said.

In a statement to Reuters news agency, China’s defense ministry said its planes had carried out a “routine flight” in “relevant airspace”. There was no “abnormality”, the statement said.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of China but the two have been governed separately since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.

Economic ties have improved significantly in recent years but on a political level the two remain far apart.

China, meanwhile, has in recent years been taking a more assertive stance over its territorial claims in both the East China and South China seas, sparking a rise in regional tensions.

 

Fonterra to take 20% stake in China’s infant food manufacturer Beingmate

Clyde K. Valle
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Fonterra to take 20% stake in China’s infant food manufacturer Beingmate

New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra said today it plans to take a 20% stake in Chinese infant food manufacturer Beingmate.

Fonterra will also spend $555 million on expanding its milk powder making capacity in New Zealand.

Beingmate is one of China’s biggest milk processors.

The tie-up would help create a global supply chain aimed at China’s market using Fonterra’s milk manufacturing partners in Australia and Europe.

It would also help Fonterra increase its share of China’s large and lucrative infant diary food market.

China relies on New Zealand for almost all its imports of milk powder.

Fonterra plans to take a 20 percent stake in Chinese infant food manufacturer Beingmate
Fonterra plans to take a 20 percent stake in Chinese infant food manufacturer Beingmate (photo Fonterra)

If successful, the new partnership between Beingmate and Fonterra would see the Chinese company set up a joint venture to buy a Fonterra plant in Australia.

It would also see Beingmate distribute Fonterra’s popular Anmum brand on the mainland.

Fonterra’s chief executive Theo Spierings said the partnership would be a “game changer” and that it would provide Fonterra with “a direct line into the infant formula market in China”.

He also said Fonterra would work with Beingmate “to evaluate mutual investments in dairy farms in China”.

“The partnership will create a fully integrated global supply chain from the farm gate direct to China’s consumers, using Fonterra’s milk pools and manufacturing sites in New Zealand, Australia, and Europe,” the company said.

Fonterra said the infant formula market in China was worth about $15.05 billion today and that it would be worth some $27.5bn by 2017.

“This growth is driven by increasing urbanization, higher disposable incomes, a preference for premium brands and relaxation of the one-child policy,” said Theo Spierings.

China puts a premium on imported dairy food products after a tainted milk formula scandal in 2008 killed six babies and made some 300,000 infants ill.

Following that, a food scare related to Fonterra products last year saw China ban all milk powder imports from New Zealand for a period of time.

Fonterra, which is a farmer-owned co-operative and the largest exporter of dairy products in the world, said it had found a bacterial strain in some of its products that can cause botulism.

Testing later found there had been no problem with the company’s diary products.

Fonterra was nevertheless fined $256,675 over the food scare, which led to a global product recall.

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Minsk talks: Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin agree on need to end Ukraine bloodshed

Roy Siemens
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Minsk talks: Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin agree on need to end Ukraine bloodshed

Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko says a “roadmap” will be prepared to end fighting between troops and pro-Russian separatists in the east after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Belarus.

Vladimir Putin said Russia would assist a dialogue, but stopping the fighting was a matter for Ukraine itself.

Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of arming the rebels, a claim repeatedly denied by the Kremlin.

“A roadmap will be prepared in order to achieve, as soon as possible, a ceasefire regime which absolutely must be bilateral in character,” Petro Poroshenko said after two hours of direct talks with Vladimir Putin in Minsk.

Earlier this year, Petro Poroshenko declared a unilateral ceasefire but accused the rebels of not following suit.

Prior to their one-to-one meeting, Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin also took part in discussions with the EU’s top diplomat Catherine Ashton.

The summit came after 10 Russian soldiers were seized in Ukraine’s east.

Petro Poroshenko met Vladimir Putin for direct talks in Belarus
Petro Poroshenko met Vladimir Putin for direct talks in Belarus

More than 2,000 people have died in fighting between Ukrainian forces and separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk.

The two regions declared independence from Kiev following Russia’s annexation of the southern Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March.

In a statement on his website after the talks, President Petro Poroshenko added: “Our main goal is peace. We are demanding decisive actions which will bring peace on Ukrainian soil.”

“The logic of a peace plan was after all supported by all the heads of state without exception.”

Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin said at a news conference: “Russia, for its part, will do everything to support this peace process if it starts.”

However, he stressed that it was up to the government in Kiev and separatist leaders in the east to work out conditions for a truce.

Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin reportedly agreed to hold further consultations between Ukraine’s and Russia’s border guard agencies.

The meeting came as part of a summit taking place under the auspices of the Moscow-led Eurasian Customs Union, which also includes Belarus and Kazakhstan.

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Robin Williams funeral: Remains cremated and ashes scattered in San Francisco Bay

Lisa.Felice
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Robin Williams funeral: Remains cremated and ashes scattered in San Francisco Bay

Robin Williams’ remains were secretly cremated a day after his death on August 11.

The actor’s family scattered his ashes in San Francisco Bay near his home.

According to People magazine, only closest family members and friends gathered at a private funeral in San Francisco to mourn Robin Williams’ disappearance.

Robin Williams' remains were secretly cremated in San Francisco a day after his death
Robin Williams’ remains were secretly cremated in San Francisco a day after his death (photo Getty Images)

Robin Williams died aged 63 after committing suicide in his home in Tiburon, California, on August 11.

The actor’s third wife, Susan Schneider, revealed that her late husband was suffering from the early stages of Parkinson’s disease.

Robin Williams is survived by his wife, Susan Schneider, and his three children, Zak, 31, Zelda, 25, and Cody, 22.

The family is asking well-wishers to send contributions to charities close to Robin Williams’ heart in lieu of flowers. Suggested organizations include St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Challenged Athletes, USO, the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco.

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Young Jeezy arrested: Rapper held on $1,000,000 bail for possession of assault rifle

Lisa.Felice
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Young Jeezy arrested: Rapper held on $1,000,000 bail for possession of assault rifle

Young Jeezy has been arrested after a gun thought to have been used in a fatal shooting on Friday, August 22, was found on his tour bus.

Eric Johnson was shot five times backstage in Mountain View, California, last week during a stop on Wiz Khalifa’s multi-artist Under the Influence of Music Tour, which features rapper Young Jeezy alongside the likes of Ty Dolla $ign, Rich Homie Quan and DJ Drama.

The 38-year-old victim died in a local hospital on Saturday morning.

Young Jeezy has been arrested after a gun thought to have been used in a fatal shooting was found on his tour bus
Young Jeezy has been arrested after a gun thought to have been used in a fatal shooting was found on his tour bus (photo Fulton County Sheriff Department)

According to TMZ, officers investigating the incident raided Young Jeezy’s vehicle on August 23, when an assault rifle believed to belong to Jeezy was uncovered.

Authorities suspect the weapon was used to gun down Eric Johnson.

Young Jeezy, real name Jay Jenkins, and a number of his entourage members were arrested on gun possession charges following the bus search.

Young Jeezy is currently being held on $1 million bail.

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Gaza Strip: Israel and Hamas agree long-term ceasefire

Roy Siemens
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Gaza Strip: Israel and Hamas agree long-term ceasefire

Israel and Hamas have agreed a long-term ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The truce, ending seven weeks of fighting that has left more than 2,200 people – mostly Palestinians – dead, was brokered by Egypt and began at 19:00 local time.

Hamas said the deal represented a “victory for the resistance”.

Israel is to ease its blockade of Gaza to allow in aid and building materials, Israeli officials said.

Indirect talks on more contentious issues, including Israel’s call for militant groups in Gaza to disarm, will begin in Cairo within a month.

The US gave the full backing to the deal, with State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki saying: “We strongly support the ceasefire announcement.”

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also welcomed the truce. But in a statement via his spokesman, Ban Ki-moon warned that “any peace effort that does not tackle the root causes of the crisis will do little more than set the stage for the next cycle of violence”.

The breakthrough came as both Israel and the Palestinians continued to trade fire.

Israel and Hamas have agreed a long-term ceasefire in the Gaza Strip
Israel and Hamas have agreed a long-term ceasefire in the Gaza Strip

A last-minute volley of mortar shells from Gaza killed an Israeli civilian and wounded six others in Eshkol Regional Council.

Earlier on Tuesday, at least six Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli air strikes in Gaza, Palestinian officials said.

Palestinian officials said Egypt’s cease fire proposal called for an indefinite end to hostilities, the immediate opening of Gaza’s crossings with Israel and Egypt, and an extension of the territory’s Mediterranean fishing zone.

A month later Israel and the Palestinian factions would discuss the construction of a seaport and airport in Gaza and the freeing of about 100 prisoners.

Israel and Egypt were also said to be demanding guarantees that weapons would not be smuggled into Gaza.

The announcement was greeted by celebratory gunfire on the streets of Gaza City.

However, sirens warning of rockets reportedly continued to sound in southern Israel.

A spokesman for Hamas, which controls Gaza, said: “We are here today to declare the victory of the resistance, the victory of Gaza, with the help of God, and the steadfastness of our people and the noble resistance.”

Israel launched Operation Protective Edge on July 8 with the stated aim of ending rocket fire. It was later expanded to include the destruction of tunnels used by militants for cross-border attacks.

At least 2,140 people, most of them civilians, have been killed in Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

The Israeli authorities say 64 Israeli soldiers have been killed, along with three Israeli civilians and a Thai national.

Early on Tuesday, Israeli jets bombed two high-rise buildings in Gaza City, containing flats and offices.

No-one was reported killed as residents managed to flee both buildings after the Israeli military warned them to leave.

Hamas, citing Palestinian casualties, has accused Israel of an “unprecedented act of revenge” against civilians.

However, Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Peter Lerner told the Associated Press the strikes were “a direct result of Hamas’ decision to situate their terrorist infrastructure within the civilian sphere, including schools, hospitals and high-rise buildings”.

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France: New cabinet named under PM Manuel Valls

Diane A. Wade
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France: New cabinet named under PM Manuel Valls

France’s President Francois Hollande has named a new cabinet under Prime Minister Manuel Valls, dropping ministers who rebelled against austerity cuts.

The first government of Manuel Valls, who was appointed less than five months ago, fell on Monday after a row with Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg.

Arnaud Montebourg resigned along with two other ministers from the left.

He will be replaced by Emmanuel Macron, a former Rothschild banker and ex-presidential economic adviser.

President Francois Hollande is seeking a coherent line on economic policy after recent criticism from the left wing of his Socialist Party.

Many see it as his last chance to make a successful presidency, after his recent poll ratings sunk to 17%.

For the first time, a woman – Najat Vallaud-Belkacem – will be put in charge of education, replacing Benoit Hamon who also lost his job.

President Francois Hollande has named a new cabinet under PM Manuel Valls
President Francois Hollande has named a new cabinet under PM Manuel Valls (photo Reuters)

Najat Vallaud-Belkacem was minister for women’s rights in the last cabinet.

Meanwhile, Fleur Pellerin has been made minister for culture, replacing Aurelie Filippetti who is also out of the government.

Key ministers in the previous cabinet, like Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Finance Minister Michel Sapin, retain their posts.

Francois Hollande’s former partner and the mother of his four children, Segolene Royal, will retain her post as environment and energy minister.

The president said earlier that the new cabinet should “cohere to the directions of the prime minister”, who is on the party’s right wing.

PM Manuel Valls said he would hold a parliamentary vote of confidence in September or October, speaking in a TV interview after the new ministers were named.

“And you will see, the majority will be there. There can be no other way. If the majority isn’t there on that occasion, it would be finished. We couldn’t finish our work,” he told France 2 TV.

Manuel Valls also defended the choice of a former banker for new economy minister, saying: “So what? Can one not in this country be an entrepreneur? One can’t be a banker?”

Arnaud Montebourg quit after publicly urging the government to end austerity policies and focus on growth.

France is struggling with high unemployment and low growth, and Francois Hollande’s popularity is the lowest for a president in more than 50 years.

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Action Comics #1: First Superman comic sold for record $3.2 million on eBay

Sonia Pantiss
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Action Comics #1: First Superman comic sold for record $3.2 million on eBay

A copy of the first Superman comic book has sold for a record $3.2 million on eBay.

Superman made his debut in Action Comics #1, which cost 10 cents in 1938.

Only around 50 unrestored originals are thought to have survived, and this was described as the most immaculate.

New York dealers Metropolis Comics announced they bought it.

It beat the previous record of 2.16 million set by another copy of the same comic in 2011.

Superman made his debut in Action Comics No 1, which cost 10 cents in 1938
Superman made his debut in Action Comics No 1, which cost 10 cents in 1938

The latest copy to be sold was given a nine out of 10 rating for its condition and has white pages, according to independent comic book grader Certified Guaranty Company.

It had been kept in a cedar chest in a home in West Virginia after being bought in 1938, according to seller Darren Adams.

After the owner’s death, the family sold it to a dealer in the early 1980s and it was eventually sold to Darren Adams, who runs the Pristine Comics shop in Washington state.

Stephen Fishler of Metropolis Comics told the Associated Press the opportunity was “just too good of an opportunity to pass up”.

He said: “It’s hard to believe that a kid’s 10 cent comic could be worth that much money, but it is Superman.

“That’s an iconic thing. It’s the first time anybody saw what a superhero was like.”

The edition sold in 2011 was also rated nine out of 10 but its pages were faded.

One percent of the proceeds of the latest sale will go to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the paralysis charity named after the late Superman actor and his wife.

Superman was created by Cleveland writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster. Around 200,000 copies of the first Action Comics were printed.

Siegel and Shuster sold the rights to Superman for just $130 to Detective Comics in 1938, although the pair battled for more royalties after the character became a global phenomenon.

US home price growth stalls in June 2014

Clyde K. Valle
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US home price growth stalls in June 2014

The US home price growth slowed in June 2014, an S&P/Case Shiller survey has indicated, continuing a long-term deceleration in the housing market.

The S&P/Case Shiller Home Price index covering 20 US major cities saw an 8.1% year-on-year price increase in June, compared with a 9.4% rise in May.

The US home price growth slowed in June 2014, continuing a long-term deceleration in the housing market
The US home price growth slowed in June 2014, continuing a long-term deceleration in the housing market

Prices in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Miami and Tampa are still about a third below their housing bubble peaks of almost a decade ago.

The deceleration pointed to a “more normal sector”, the company said.

“Home price gains continue to ease as they have since last fall [autumn],” said David M. Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

“For the first time since February 2008, all cities showed lower annual rates than the previous month,” David M. Blitzer said.

How has the online gaming industry benefitted from the rise in mobile devices?

Ricky Robinson
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How has the online gaming industry benefitted from the rise in mobile devices?

A recent study has found that PC and console games are declining in popularity, as many gamers are turning to the online and mobile options. With the likes of Facebook available on all devices, more users are taking up social gaming as they are able to play and connect with friends through social media platforms. This increase in popularity had led to the real-money online casino games played on social networking sites is now a £1.8 billion industry.

The numbers are rising and currently 40% of all internet users worldwide play online games. Mobile games have become the most popular, which players can play while on the go and social games, which can be played on social networking sites. Game developers are also working on designing their games and characters to attract more women to gaming. Marvel and Blizzard for instance are working on redesigning their lead characters for some upcoming games so that in the near future there will be more female lead characters.

online-gaming-industry-mobile-gamesThe country with the largest gaming market in Europe is Germany, in terms of the monthly revenue per paying user. In 2013, German gamers generated a staggering $3.7 billion dollar revenue, creating the fourth largest gaming market worldwide, only preceded by the US, China and Japan. However, the Market Research Blog have found that the UK rank before Germany in terms of spending rates on digital game content.

For the gaming industry, the shift to online gambling is a very welcome one. The online gaming market has very quickly turned into a multi-billion dollar business and it is particularly popular in Europe. Some concerned voices have argued that the rise of online gambling would increase the number of gambling addicts, however researchers of the Harvard Medical School and other organisations have argued that there is no evidence for such a claim. Casinos should embrace the potential the internet offers or otherwise they risk being left behind.

Head of Consumer PR at Ladbrokes Casino David Williams, discusses that;

“The rate at which social gaming is growing is undoubtedly one of the most exciting developments on our landscape. Being in the right place at the right time to influence consumer behaviour and offer discerning customers precisely what they want – and more – will be key to leveraging the cash benefits of social gaming for big firms.”

The online gaming industry is an incredibly fast growing one. Social games are definitely the future and if you want to be competitive you will need to cater games for all genders as more and more women play games online. There are many more markets that can be explored, with Europe being one of the fastest growing ones, and now is the time to seize the opportunity and delve into the world of online gambling.

Barack Obama authorizes surveillance flights over Syria

Roy Siemens
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Barack Obama authorizes surveillance flights over Syria

President Barack Obama has authorized surveillance flights over Syria in order to gain intelligence on the activities of Islamic State (ISIS).

Correspondents say the move could mark the first step towards US air strikes inside Syria, where the jihadist group controls vast swathes of territory.

The US is already carrying out strikes against IS in neighboring Iraq.

On Monday, the Syrian government said it would work with the international community in the fight against IS.

Western governments have so far rejected suggestions that they collaborate with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in an attempt to counter the growing regional threat posed by IS.

They have repeatedly called on Bashar al-Assad to step down since the beginning of the three-and-a-half year uprising against his rule, in which more than 191,000 people are believed to have been killed.

On Monday evening, US officials said Barack Obama had approved over the weekend reconnaissance flights by unmanned and manned aircraft, including drones and possibly U2 spy planes.

One official later told the Associated Press that they had already begun.

President Barack Obama has authorized surveillance flights over Syria in order to gain intelligence on the activities of Islamic State
President Barack Obama has authorized surveillance flights over Syria in order to gain intelligence on the activities of Islamic State

The US military has been carrying out aerial surveillance of IS – an al-Qaeda breakaway formerly known as Isis – in Iraq for months and launched air strikes on 8 August.

The president cited the threat to US diplomats and military personnel and the humanitarian crisis in the north, where hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes since June as IS fighters and allied Sunni rebels have taken control of dozens of cities, towns and villages.

Barack Obama has long resisted taking military action in Syria, but Pentagon officials are said to have advised him that the only way the threat from IS can be fully eliminated is to go after the group there.

A spokesman for General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Pentagon was “preparing options to address Isis both in Iraq and Syria with a variety of military tools including air strikes”.

The options reportedly include targeting IS leaders in and around their stronghold of the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, as well as in the east near the Iraqi border.

Last week, IS published a video showing it killing the American journalist James Foley, who was abducted in Syria in 2012. The group threatened to kill other US citizens it was holding in retaliation for US air strikes.

It later emerged that US special forces had attempted to rescue the hostages earlier in July, but that they were not at the location in Syria where the military thought they were being held.

One Obama administration official told the New York Times that the US did not intend to collaborate with the Assad government or inform him in advance of any operation.

“It is not the case that the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” said Benjamin Rhodes, a deputy national security adviser.

“Joining forces with Assad would essentially permanently alienate the Sunni population in both Syria and Iraq, who are necessary to dislodging [IS].”

On Monday, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said his government was “ready for co-operation and co-ordination at the regional and international level to fight terrorism”.

However, Walid Muallem warned the White House that it would view any unilateral military action as a breach of sovereignty and an “act of aggression”.

The Western-backed rebel Free Syrian Army, which is fighting IS across northern Syria, meanwhile said its commanders on the ground were ready to co-ordinate with the US.

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Russian paratroopers captured in Ukraine

Roy Siemens
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Russian paratroopers captured in Ukraine

Russia has admitted for the first time that ten Russian soldiers captured in eastern Ukraine had crossed the border “by accident”.

Ukraine said ten Russian paratroopers had been captured and has released video interviews of some of the men. One is quoted as saying “this is not our war”.

The incident comes ahead of a key meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian presidents.

Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are at a summit in Minsk in Belarus.

More than 2,000 people have died in months of fighting between Ukrainian forces and separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The two regions declared independence from Kiev following Russia’s annexation of the southern Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March.

A Russian defense ministry source was quoted by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti as saying: “The soldiers really did participate in a patrol of a section of the Russian-Ukrainian border, crossed it by accident on an unmarked section, and as far as we understand showed no resistance to the armed forces of Ukraine when they were detained.”

The source also said that some 500 Ukrainian servicemen had crossed the border at various times, adding: “We did not give much publicity to that. We just returned all those willing to return to Ukrainian territory at safe places.”

Ukraine's security service has captured ten Russian paratroopers near the village of Dzerkalne
Ukraine’s security service has captured ten Russian paratroopers near the village of Dzerkalne (photo Ukraine Defence Ministry)

Ukraine’s security service said its military had captured the 10 Russian paratroopers near the village of Dzerkalne, about 30 miles south-east of the rebel-held city of Donetsk and about 15 miles from the Russian border.

Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said: “This wasn’t a mistake, but a special mission they were carrying out.”

A Ukrainian television report that carried the interviews with the men said they were from the 331st regiment of the 98th Svirsk airborne division.

It quoted one man, named as Sgt Andrei Generalov, as saying: “Stop sending in our boys. Why? This is not our war. And if we weren’t here, none of this would have happened.”

Another man, named as Ivan Milchakov, says he is based in the Russian town of Kostroma.

“I did not see where we crossed the border. They just told us we were going on a 70km march over three days,” he said.

“Everything is different here, not like they show it on television. We’ve come as cannon fodder.”

Russia has repeatedly denied Ukrainian and Western accusations that it is supporting the rebels.

On Monday, Ukraine said an armored column had crossed the border into south-eastern Ukraine, sparking clashes near Novoazovsk.

The summit in Minsk is also being attended by senior officials from the European Union which, along with the US, has imposed sanctions on Russia for failing to rein in the separatists.

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Amazon buys Twitch for $970 million

Nancy Clayson
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Amazon buys Twitch for $970 million

Amazon has bought video-game streaming service Twitch for $970 million.

Earlier in the year, Google’s YouTube had been reported to be in late-stage acquisition talks for a similar amount.

Founded in 2011, Twitch, formerly known as Twitch.tv, allows users to watch other people play video games.

As of July of this year, the service had over 55 million unique monthly viewers.

“Broadcasting and watching gameplay is a global phenomenon and Twitch has built a platform that brings together tens of millions of people who watch billions of minutes of games each month,” said Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos in a statement.

“We look forward to learning from them and helping them move even faster to build new services for the gaming community,” he added.

The move is seen by many analysts as helping Amazon in its quest to beat other streaming video sites like YouTube and Netflix.

Twitch allows users to broadcast snippets of their game play and its services are built into gaming platforms like Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One.

Amazon has bought video-game streaming service Twitch for $970 million
Amazon has bought video-game streaming service Twitch for $970 million

Amazon currently offers Prime subscribers access to streaming television and movies on its site, and has recently begun commissioning original programming – following in the footsteps of Netflix, which found success with House of Cards and Orange is the New Black.

Twitch adds a cadre of committed gamers to Amazon’s potential audience.

The all-cash deal is one of Amazon’s biggest acquisitions to date.

Twitch’s founders have attempted to quell any concerns that the Twitch’s community may have about the acquisition.

“We chose Amazon because they believe in our community, they share our values and long-term vision, and they want to help us get there faster,” wrote Emmett Shear in a letter to users.

“We’re keeping most everything the same: our office, our employees, our brand, and most importantly our independence. But with Amazon’s support we’ll have the resources to bring you an even better Twitch.”

Twitch.tv was created as an offshoot to Justin.tv, which was founded by Justin Kan and Emmett Shear as a platform in which Kan could live-stream his life.

Following the success of Twitch, Justin.tv was closed earlier this month.

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Intex Cloud FX: Mozilla launches $33 smartphone in India

Nancy Clayson
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Intex Cloud FX: Mozilla launches $33 smartphone in India

Mozilla has launched low-cost smartphone Intex Cloud FX that will retail for only 1,999 rupees ($33) in India.

The Intex Cloud FX is only for sale on India’s online shopping site, Snapdeal.

The phone runs on Mozilla’s Firefox operating system and as such it will be the first low-cost device running that system available in Asia.

India’s emerging market is regarded as the world’s fastest growing for low-cost smartphones.

Various emerging markets across Asia are seen by mobile device manufacturers as the key remaining areas for massive growth.

The Intex Cloud FX is only for sale on India's online shopping site, Snapdeal
The Intex Cloud FX is only for sale on India’s online shopping site, Snapdeal

“With the launch of Intex Cloud FX, we aim to enable the masses to get smartphone experience at the cost of a feature phone,” Mozilla said in a statement.

The device is expected to “redefine the entry-level smartphone and create strong momentum in Asia”, said Mozilla’s president, Li Gong.

Analysts expect these types of low-cost smartphones to give users in emerging markets an affordable opportunity to upgrade from so-called feature phones – or phones that do not easily access the internet.

However, they are not designed to rival devices such as Apple’s iPhone or Samsung’s Galaxy phones.

Popular applications such as Facebook and Twitter will be available on the new phone.

India’s Intex Technologies manufactured the new Mozilla smartphone which has a memory of up to 4GB, Bluetooth and wi-fi, as well as dual-SIM capabilities.

The handset also supports several languages including Hindi and Tamil.

Mozilla is expected to make more announcements about new smartphones in India this week.

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Notting Hill carnival 2014 ends with violent clashes

Nancy Clayson
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Notting Hill carnival 2014 ends with violent clashes

Two police officers were injured and three men were stabbed in a series of violent clashes at the end of the Notting Hill carnival on August 25.

More than 260 people were arrested over the course of the two-day annual street party, mostly for drug-related offences and public disorder.

But 15 were arrested for having concealed of offensive weapons, including two machine guns and a handgun.

Other 157 people were arrested on the last day of the carnival yesterday, including eight held by police after a 29-year-old man was stabbed on the corner of Colville Gardens and Colville Terrace. The man, who has not been named, was taken to hospital and is in a stable condition.

The police officers were assaulted during an attempted arrest of a man suspected of drug dealing.

In addition, a man was arrested over the stabbing of an 18-year-old man in Southam Street, Kensington, and six men were held on suspicion of attempted murder following another stabbing.

There were also 38 arrests over suspected drug offences, 24 for public disorder and 15 for possession of offensive weapons.

The annual Notting Hill carnival is thought to be Europe's largest street party
The annual Notting Hill carnival is thought to be Europe’s largest street party

However, the number of arrests was down on last year, when 301 people were detained, and 2012 when 278 people were held.

A 33-year-old male police officer and his 35-year-old female colleague were taken to hospital after being assaulted at the junction of Lancaster Road and St Luke’s Road at 15:15 BST.

The man’s condition is not life-threatening but it is understood he was unconscious at some stage following injuries to his head and torso. His colleague sustained torso injuries but was discharged from hospital.

The decision to use the Section 60 and Section 60AA orders was taken by the commander in charge of policing on Monday evening.

It was in use from 19:00 until 02:00 on Tuesday.

Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 allows senior police officers to authorize police officers to stop and search people in a specific area, either where a serious public order problem is likely to arise or has taken place, or for offensive weapons or dangerous instruments.

Section 60AA gives police powers to order the removal of disguises where section 60 has been invoked.

Police fielded 7,000 officers on the last day of the carnival.

The annual Notting Hill carnival is thought to be Europe’s largest street party and represents one of the biggest operational challenges in police’s calendar.

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Emmys 2014: Breaking Bad wins outstanding drama series award

Sonia Pantiss
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Emmys 2014: Breaking Bad wins outstanding drama series award

Drug drama Breaking Bad was the biggest winner at the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards last night, scooping five awards including best drama series.

It was the second consecutive year that the show, which ended last September after five seasons, had picked up the ceremony’s highest honor.

Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston was named best actor in a drama series for a fourth time as the teacher-turned-drug kingpin Walter White.

He beat a host of Hollywood heavyweights including Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson for their roles in the acclaimed crime drama True Detective.

His co-stars Aaron Paul and Anna Gunn were also honored for best supporting actor and supporting actress in a drama series.

British drama Sherlock has won a hat-trick of awards at the Primetime Emmys in Los Angeles.

There were four awards for Sherlock including best cinematography, music, single-camera picture editing and sound editing.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman won best actor and best supporting actor in a mini-series, although neither was at the ceremony.

Steven Moffat also won best writing in a mini-series for the final episode of Sherlock‘s third season.

In other categories, The Good Wife star Julianna Margulies won the Emmy for best lead actress in a drama series for her part as lawyer Alicia Florrick.

Breaking Bad was the biggest winner at the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
Breaking Bad was the biggest winner at the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (photo Getty Images)

There were also best actress and best supporting actress in a mini-series awards for Oscar winners Jessica Lange and Kathy Bates for their roles in American Horror Story: Coven.

Sitcom Modern Family was named best comedy series for a fifth consecutive year, equaling the record set by 1990s show Frasier for most comedy wins.

Ty Burrell also walked away with best supporting actor in a comedy for his role on the show.

The Big Bang Theory‘s Jim Parsons won best actor in a comedy series. Julia Louis-Dreyfus won her third consecutive Emmy for playing foul-mouthed US Vice President Selina Meyer in political satire Veep.

Allison Janney won the best supporting actress in a comedy series for Mom.

The ceremony also paid tribute to industry members who died in the past year.

They included James Garner, Ruby Dee, Sid Caesar, Carmen Zapata and Elaine Stritch.

It concluded with a special homage to Robin Williams by long-time friend Billy Crystal, who remembered the actor as “the brightest star in a comedy galaxy”.

“It is very hard to talk about him in the past because he was so present in our lives,” Billy Crystal said.

“While some of the brightest of our celestial bodies are actually extinct now, their energy long since cool, but miraculously, because they float in the heavens so far away from the sound, their beautiful life will continue to shine on us forever.

“And the glow will be so bright, it will warm your heart, it will make your eyes glisten, and you’ll think to yourself, Robin Williams – what a concept.”

The main ceremony at the Nokia Theatre followed the Creative Arts Emmy prize-giving on August 16, honoring TV guest stars and behind-the-scenes crew.

The 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards took place at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on August 25.

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Can Google Play dominate the app market in the coming years?

Ricky Robinson
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Can Google Play dominate the app market in the coming years?

Google Play has been on the scene since October 2008 and during this six-year period it has grown to be one of the two biggest mobile app platforms in the world – alongside the App Store created by Apple. Google Play services those who use Android phones and, having started as the relative underdog, now has 84.7% of the overall market share, as pointed out by CNET. Of course market share does not automatically ensure dominance, but there are other signs that Google Play could achieve this.

google-play-logoAlthough Android has this massive slice of the mobile market, at the moment the actual Google Play app platform only has 39% market share distribution, compared with 61% for the App Store . This translates into higher revenues from the App Store, but the overall app market is growing fast and Android is cutting into iOS revenues, as Google targets users of lower-end smartphones costing less than $200 with its apps. Alongside tablet users this has helped Google Play reach 90% of the total App Store downloads. However, the problem has been converting that into profits, as better-off iPhone users have been more inclined to buy apps, but making the Android OS free and targeting users of Samsung mobiles in South Korea and Japan particularly, is now helping Google close this gap. Google Play’s revenues rose to 38.5% of the App Store’s (compared with one tenth a year before), indicating that sales of Android games apps in these countries is proving effective.

It is not just games apps that are helping Google Play catch the App Store, and increase its share of the market even further, as educational ones are proving a big hit in schools. The likes of Google Apps for Education are becoming a fixture in US schools, showing that the company has a varied strategy. The impressive performance of Google Play since 2008 and the spread of Android phones around the world, suggests we should all Google Play to win. General interests such as fashion, movies, and sports app are also becoming increasingly popular, with many being developed by individuals and companies. For example for sports fans who enjoy to check the odds on matches there is a Sports Bet Predictor app. These are easily downloadable to devices from the play google page and contain all the necessary information such as the developers details and independent reviews to help you make an informative decision.

Emmys 2014: Winners full list

Sonia Pantiss
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Emmys 2014: Winners full list

The full list of winners at the Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Monday, August 25, in Los Angeles:

Drama Series

Breaking Bad

Comedy Series

Modern Family

Actor, Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad

Actress, Drama Series
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife

Actor, Comedy Series
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Actress, Comedy Series

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Supporting Actor, Drama Series
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad

Supporting Actress, Drama Series
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad

Supporting Actor, Comedy Series
Ty Burrell, Modern Family

Supporting Actress, Comedy

Allison Janney, Mom

Actor, Miniseries Or Movie
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock

Actress, Miniseries Or Movie

Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven

The 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards took place at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on August 25
The 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards took place at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on August 25

Supporting Actor, Miniseries Or Movie
Martin Freeman, Sherlock

Supporting Actress, Miniseries Or Movie

Kathy Bates, American Horror Story

Variety
The Colbert Report

Reality Competition
The Amazing Race

Miniseries
Fargo

Movie
The Normal Heart

Best Writing For Variety Special

Sarah Silverman

Variety Series

The Colbert Report

Best Writing Comedy Series

Louis CK, Louie

Best Directing Drama Series

True Detective

Best Directing Variety Special

Glenn Weiss

Best Writing Mini Series

Stephen Moffat, Sherlock

Best Guest Actress In Drama Series

Allison Janney

Best Guest Actor In Drama Series

Joe Morton

Guest Appearance On A Comedy Series

Jimmy Fallon and Uzo Aduba

Best Directing, Comedy:

Gail Mancuso, Modern Family

Best Writing Drama Series

Breaking Bad

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Burning Man 2014: Festival closed on opening day amid heavy rains

Sonia Pantiss
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Burning Man 2014: Festival closed on opening day amid heavy rains

Burning Man festival, the annual counterculture event in the desert of northern Nevada, has been closed on opening day amid rare heavy rains.

Thousands of burners are stuck in Reno, Nevada, after the rainstorm delayed the start of Burning Man festival.

Organizers said the gate to the temporary desert city would be closed until at least midday on Tuesday, August 25, as the Black Rock desert playa turned to mud.

Festival goers are being advised to stay in nearby Reno overnight because law enforcement officers are turning cars back from flooded roads.Police were turning people around at the entrance to avoid stuck vehicles.

Burning Man festival has been closed on opening day amid rare heavy rains
Burning Man festival has been closed on opening day amid rare heavy rains

Many of the would-be attendees began setting up camp at nearby Pyramid Lake, local media reported.

Hundreds of people gathered outside a shop on August 25 to buy camping permits, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.

Burning Man festival, which attracts about 50,000 people each year, is due to run through September 1.

In 2013, a record 68,000 people attended Burning Man festival, which ends with the burning of a four-storey effigy.

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James Foley’s last letter released by family

Diane A. Wade
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James Foley’s last letter released by family

The family of James Foley – the kidnapped American journalist killed by Islamic State militants last week – has posted a letter they say he sent while in captivity, via a fellow hostage.

James Foley was unable to write letters to his family because they were confiscated by his jailers.

Instead he asked another hostage who was about to be released to commit his letter to memory.

When that hostage was freed he dictated the letter to James Foley’s mother, Diane.

The family posted the letter on Sunday evening, on a Facebook page they had set up to campaign for James Foley’s release.

Earlier they had attended a memorial mass for James Foley in their home town of Rochester, New Hampshire.

James Foley was abducted in northern Syria in November 2012 while covering that country's civil war
James Foley was abducted in northern Syria in November 2012 while covering that country’s civil war

James Wright Foley, 41, a freelance journalist was abducted in northern Syria in November 2012, while covering that country’s civil war.

Last week, Islamic State militants released a video showing his killing by a masked man with a British accent.

On Sunday, the British ambassador to the US told CNN that British officials were close to identifying the killer.

James Foley’s last letter

Dear Family and Friends,

I remember going to the Mall with Dad, a very long bike ride with Mom. I remember so many great family times that take me away from this prison. Dreams of family and friends take me away and happiness fills my heart.

I know you are thinking of me and praying for me. And I am so thankful. I feel you all especially when I pray. I pray for you to stay strong and to believe. I really feel I can touch you even in this darkness when I pray.

Eighteen of us have been held together in one cell, which has helped me. We have had each other to have endless long conversations about movies, trivia, sports. We have played games made up of scraps found in our cell… we have found ways to play checkers, Chess, and Risk… and have had tournaments of competition, spending some days preparing strategies for the next day’s game or lecture. The games and teaching each other have helped the time pass. They have been a huge help. We repeat stories and laugh to break the tension.

I have had weak and strong days. We are so grateful when anyone is freed; but of course, yearn for our own freedom. We try to encourage each other and share strength. We are being fed better now and daily. We have tea, occasional coffee. I have regained most of my weight lost last year.

I think a lot about my brothers and sister. I remember playing Werewolf in the dark with Michael and so many other adventures. I think of chasing Mattie and T around the kitchen counter. It makes me happy to think of them. If there is any money left in my bank account, I want it to go to Michael and Matthew. I am so proud of you, Michael and thankful to you for happy childhood memories and to you and Kristie for happy adult ones.

And big John, how I enjoyed visiting you and Cress in Germany. Thank you for welcoming me. I think a lot about RoRo and try to imagine what Jack is like. I hope he has RoRo’s personality!

And Mark… so proud of you too Bro. I think of you on the West coast and hope you are doing some snowboarding and camping, I especially remember us going to the Comedy Club in Boston together and our big hug after. The special moments keep me hopeful.

Katie, so very proud of you. You are the strongest and best of us all!! I think of you working so hard, helping people as a nurse. I am so glad we texted just before I was captured. I pray I can come to your wedding…. now I am sounding like Grammy!!

Grammy, please take your medicine, take walks and keep dancing. I plan to take you out to Margarita’s when I get home. Stay strong because I am going to need your help to reclaim my life.

Jim

Robin Williams’ Pegoretti bike fetches $20,000 at Tiburon charity auction

Sonia Pantiss
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Robin Williams’ Pegoretti bike fetches $20,000 at Tiburon charity auction

Robin Williams’ custom bike has been auctioned off to benefit college scholarships for underprivileged students.

Robin Williams, a keen cyclist, donated his handmade Pegoretti bike and an autographed Night at the Museum hat to the Hotbed benefit for the 10,000 Degrees organization shortly before his death on August 11.

Several weeks before his death, Robin Williams donated his Pegoretti bicycle to the Drever Family Foundation’s annual Hotbed benefit
Several weeks before his death, Robin Williams donated his Pegoretti bicycle to the Drever Family Foundation’s annual Hotbed benefit

Several weeks before his death, Robin Williams donated his Pegoretti bicycle to the Drever Family Foundation’s annual Hotbed benefit in Tiburon, California, which took place on August 23. The comedian was a close friend of Jan and Maxwell Drever and their family and was planning to attend the gala before his suicide two weeks ago. He also helped organize the Moroccan themed event, according to the New York Daily News. Robin Williams’ bike fetched $20,000 at the auction, which will fund a year of higher education for two students.

Ukraine: President Petro Poroshenko dissolves parliament and calls for snap elections

Diane A. Wade
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Ukraine: President Petro Poroshenko dissolves parliament and calls for snap elections

Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko has dissolved parliament and called snap elections for October 26, as government forces continue to fight pro-Russian rebel forces in the east.

Petro Poroshenko said many current parliamentarians were backers of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych and that the majority of Ukrainians wanted a new parliament.

Elections would be held on October 26, he said in a TV address.

Separately, Ukraine’s military says it clashed with rebel armored vehicles that entered the country from Russia.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has dissolved parliament and called snap elections for October 26
Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko has dissolved parliament and called snap elections for October 26

It said a column of 10 tanks and two armored personnel carriers was heading towards the south-eastern port of Mariupol but was stopped. Two tanks were reportedly destroyed.

More than 2,000 people have died in months of fighting between Ukrainian forces and separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The two regions declared independence from Kiev, following Russia’s annexation of the southern Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March.

Ukraine accuses Russia of arming the rebels in the east and sending its troops into the country – a charge the Kremlin denies.

On Tuesday, Petro Poroshenko is expected to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at talks in Minsk Belarus.

Ebola outbreak: Liberian doctor Abraham Borbor dies despite taking ZMapp

Kathryn R. Bown
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Ebola outbreak: Liberian doctor Abraham Borbor dies despite taking ZMapp

Liberian doctor Abraham Borbor has died despite taking experimental anti-Ebola drug ZMapp, Liberia’s information minister says.

Abraham Borbor was one of three doctors in Liberia who had been given ZMapp and were showing signs of recovery.

ZMapp has been credited with helping several patients recover, including two US doctors.

More than 1,400 people have died from Ebola this year in four West African countries – Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

Dr. Abraham Borbor “was showing signs of improvement but yesterday (Sunday) he took a turn for the worse,” Liberian Information Minister Lewis Brown told the BBC.

“What this means for the drugs, I don’t know,” the minister added, without giving further details.

It is believed Dr. Abraham Borbor died in the capital Monrovia. He was the deputy chief medical doctor at the country’s largest hospital.

ZMapp has been credited with helping several Ebola patients recover
ZMapp has been credited with helping several Ebola patients recover

Liberia has recently imposed a quarantine in parts of Monrovia to try to stop the spread of the virus.

Last Thursday, police fired live rounds and tear gas during protests among residents of the city’s West Point slum.

Liberia has seen the most deaths – more than 570 – in what is now the worst Ebola outbreak in history.

Meanwhile, Japan said it was ready to allow shipments of an experimental anti-viral drug to help combat the Ebola outbreak.

It is not clear whether T-705 (or Avigan) will actually work against Ebola, and no monkey or human trials of the drug have been done.

T-705 was developed by Japan’s Toyama Chemicals company for use against new strains of influenza. It was approved by the Japanese government earlier this year.

A company spokesman says the firm believes the similarity between flu viruses and Ebola means Avigan could be effective.

Japan says it is ready to ship Avigan even without approval by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Ebola is spread between humans through direct contact with infected body fluids and several doctors and health workers have died.

It is one of the world’s deadliest diseases, with up to 90% of cases resulting in death, although in the current outbreak the rate is about 55%.

The speed and extent of the outbreak was “unprecedented”, the WHO said last week.

An estimated 2,615 people in West Africa have been infected with Ebola since March.

On Saturday, Sierra Leone’s parliament passed a new law making it a criminal offence to hide Ebola patients.

If the law is approved by the president, those caught face up to two years in prison.

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Michael Brown funeral held in Ferguson

Nancy Clayson
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Michael Brown funeral held in Ferguson

Hundreds of mourners gathered in Ferguson, Missouri to attend the funeral of Michael Brown, the black teenager who was shot by police.

Michael Brown, 18, who was unarmed, was killed on August 9 after being stopped by a white police officer for walking in the middle of the street.

His death sparked days of protests and violent clashes, but tensions appear to have eased in recent days.

Michael Brown’s father has called for calm ahead of his son’s funeral.

“Tomorrow all I want is peace,” Michael Brown Senior told hundreds of people at a rally in St Louis on Sunday.

On Monday, long lines of mourners entered the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Ferguson where the funeral service will be held at 10.00 local time.

The mood has been peaceful and sombre, but there is still anger in Ferguson, which has a majority black population, after the shooting by white police officer, Darren Wilson.

Michael Brown was killed on August 9 after being stopped by a white police officer for walking in the middle of the street
Michael Brown was killed on August 9 after being stopped by a white police officer for walking in the middle of the street

The National Guard, which was deployed to deal with violent clashes in Ferguson last week, started to withdraw from the area on Saturday as tensions showed signs of easing.

Michael Brown’s father made his plea for calm on Sunday to a crowd gathered at the Peace Fest 2014 festival, a rally against police violence in St Louis.

Rev. Al Sharpton also addressed the crowd, telling them the day of the funeral was not for “rage” but “about the legacy and memory of his [Michael Brown Sr.’s] son”.

“We don’t want anything tomorrow to happen that might defile the name of Michael Brown,” the reverend added.

Michael Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden took the microphone to thank the crowd.

She said she had seen her son’s body at the morgue for the first time on Sunday since the day of the shooting.

The family of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old who was shot and killed by a Florida neighborhood watch organizer who was later acquitted of murder charges, was present at the rally.

“We’re going to stand tall with you all,” Trayvon Martin’s father, Tracy Martin, said.

Three White House officials and Governor Jay Nixon are due to attend the funeral on Monday.

Ferguson was relatively calm on Sunday, with the main street open to traffic and fewer police officers around compared to previous days, Reuters reports.

The officer who killed Michael Brown, Darren Wilson, has been suspended with pay. Michael Brown’s family and supporters have called for him to be prosecuted.

A grand jury panel of residents has begun hearing evidence in the case, though officials have not said when it will reach a decision.

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