Burger King has confirmed it is in takeover talks with Canadian coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons.
A merger would create the world’s third-largest fast-food combine, one with a stock market value of about $18 billion.
Burger King and Tim Hortons confirmed the talks on August 24 and said the new group would be headquartered in Canada, where corporate taxes are lower.
Burger King’s majority shareholder, 3G Capital, would stay in overall control.
Burger King has confirmed it is in takeover talks with Canadian coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons (photo AFP)
New York and Rio de Janeiro-based investment company 3G Capital bought Burger King in 2010 for about $3.3 billion and floated the company in 2012, holding on to nearly 70% of the shares.
If a deal goes ahead, the remaining shares will be distributed between the current shareholders of Burger King and Tim Hortons.
According to reports, the companies will retain their separate brand identities but save costs by sharing corporate services.
Combined, Burger King and Tim Hortons would have an estimated revenue of $22 billion a year from around 18,000 restaurants in 100 countries.
Tim Hortons used to be owned by US fast-food chain Wendy’s, before being spun off as a separate company in 2006.
Nicki Minaj suffered a weird wardrobe malfunction as she kicked off this year’s MTV VMA’s show, along with Ariana Grande and Jessie J, with a hot performance of their hit collaboration Bang Bang.
After her solo Anaconda moment, when she re-emerged to do her verse on Bang Bang, something was wrong. The singer spent the entire time awkwardly clinging to her dress.
Nicki Minaj suffered a weird wardrobe malfunction as she kicked off this year’s MTV VMA’s show, along with Ariana Grande and Jessie J (photo MTV)
Nicki Minaj is no stranger to showing off some skin but instead of flaunting her famous figure during her VMAs “Bang Bang” performance with Ariana Grande and Jessie J, the rapper was desperately trying to cover up her body.
“We ran out of time getting the dressed zipped up,” Nicki Minaj said backstage later in the show.
Terrorist group Boko Haram has said it has set up an Islamic state in the towns and villages it has seized in north-eastern Nigeria.
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was speaking in a video released to congratulate his fighters for seizing the town of Gwoza earlier this month.
It is not clear if Abubakar Shekau has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, which controls parts of Iraq and Syria.
Nigeria’s army has rejected the claim as “empty”.
Thousands of people have been killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria, since 2009 when Boko Haram began its insurgency.
Gwoza, which had 265,000 residents in the last census, is the biggest town under Boko Haram control.
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was speaking in a video released to congratulate his fighters for seizing the town of Gwoza earlier this month
It has raised its flags over the palace of the Emir of Gwoza, the town’s traditional ruler, residents say.
“Thanks be to Allah who gave victory to our brethren in Gwoza and made it part of the Islamic state,” Abubakar Shekau said in the 52-minute video.
It controls several areas, mostly in Borno state where the group was launched, but also in neighboring Yobe state.
The video also shows about 20 men in civilian clothes apparently being shot dead.
Nigeria’s military spokesman Chris Olukolade responded with a statement dismissing the declaration.
“The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nigerian state is still intact,” he said.
In his previous video, released in July, Abubakar Shekau congratulated the Islamic State (IS) for its advances in Iraq and Syria but did not say whether they were allies – there is no evidence that the two groups have been working together.
IS has seized much of northern Iraq in recent months, leading the US to launch air strikes.
Last week, the militants sparked global outrage by killing American journalist James Foley.
PlayStation network has been shut down after cyber-attackers overloaded it in what’s known as a distributed denial of service attack.
Sony said in a blog post that no personal information had been accessed.
On August 24, an American Airlines flight carrying a senior Sony executive was also diverted following a bomb scare.
The group claiming responsibility for closing down the network also tweeted suggesting there was a security threat to the flight.
Sony also said that “the PlayStation Network and Sony Entertainment Network have been impacted by an attempt to overwhelm our network with artificially high traffic”.
PlayStation network has been shut down after cyber-attackers overloaded it in what’s known as a distributed denial of service attack
“We will continue to work towards fixing this issue and hope to have our services up and running as soon as possible,” the blog said.
Sony has said the FBI is investigating the security scare over the flight carrying Sony Online Entertainment President John Smedley, which should have landed in San Diego but was diverted to Phoenix, Arizona.
John Smedley tweeted: “Yes. My plane was diverted. Not going to discuss more than that. Justice will find these guys.”
Sony’s 52 million strong PlayStation network has been hit by hacking attacks before, including a security breach in 2011.
Sony had already scheduled routine maintenance work to be done on its PlayStation network on August 25.
Some services including PlayStation Store, PSN account management and registration, entertainment services and online gameplay will be unavailable.
This year’s MTV Video Music Awards show was closed by Beyonce with an epic nearly 20-minute performance.
Beyonce was joined onstage by her husband Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy which brought her to tears, amid numerous divorce rumors.
The singer accepted the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
Beyonce’s performance easily outdid her competition throughout the night, though she lost video of the year, which instead went to a teary Miley Cyrus who let a homeless man accept her award for video of the year.
It was in sharp contrast to the 2013 VMAs, when Miley Cyrus twerked and danced shockingly onstage.
“Thank y’all, my name is Jesse and I accepting this award on behalf of the 1.6 million runaways and homeless youth in the United States who are starving, lost and scared for their lives right now. I know this because I am one of these people,” the man said, as Miley Cyrus looked on.
“Though I may have been invisible to you in the streets, I have a lot of the same dreams that brought many of you here tonight.”
Miley Cyrus’ decision to let someone else accept her award to promote a cause was reminiscent of Marlon Brando’s 1973 Academy Awards best actor win, when he gave a Native American activist the stage rather than accept his Oscar trophy.
Miley Cyrus let a homeless man accept her award for video of the year at the MTV VMA’s 2014 (photo Twitter)
The most shocking moment of the VMA show was Nicki Minaj’s rump-shaking during her performance of Anaconda. In the show’s first minutes Nicki Minaj suffered a wardrobe malfunction when she joined Ariana Grande and Jessie J for Bang, Bang.
Taylor Swift was a crowd favorite when she performed her new single Shake It Off in shimmery shorts and a crop top.
Ariana Grande, who held hands with rapper Big Sean backstage, kicked off the show with a performance of her EDM hit, Break Free in a Beyonce-inspired leotard. The 21-year-old won best pop video for her smash single Problem, but lost best female video to Katy Perry, who won for the hit Dark Horse.
Katy Perry sported a figure-hugging denim dress and was joined by Riff Raff in a coordinating outfit, mirroring Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears at the 2001 American Music Awards.
The night featured a serious social message along with the performances. Rapper-actor Common held a moment of silence for Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old who was fatally shot by a police officer on August 9, before he presented the award for best hip-hop video.
“Hip-hop has always been about truth and has been a powerful instrument of social change, from Melle Mel to Public Enemy to Kendrick Lamar,” Common said.
“Hip-hop has always been presented a voice for the revolution.”
Later, a 15-second spot aired alluding to the shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, urging viewers to take action to eliminate bias.
“Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced,” a quote by author James Baldwin read on the screen.
Lorde won best rock video for Royals and Ed Sheeran won best male video, beating out Pharrell Williams, Eminem, John Legend and Sam Smith, who was a show highlight with his smoldering performance of his hit Stay With Me.
Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora appeared onstage as spider women when they performed their hit Black Widow, as Taylor Swift, Lorde and Charli XCX danced and sang along.
Russia is planning to send a second humanitarian convoy into eastern Ukraine “in the next few days”, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.
Sergei Lavrov said the humanitarian situation there was “deteriorating”.
Ukraine did not authorize the first convoy, which returned to Russia at the weekend, fearing it carried military equipment for pro-Russia separatists.
According to the Ukrainian officials, a column of armored vehicles crossed from Russia on Monday, sparking heavy clashes.
The crossing was reported close to the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol.
“The Ukrainian border has been breached by a convoy of several dozen tanks and armoured vehicles,” security spokesman Leonid Matyukhin told AFP.
“The convoy has been stopped by border guards… The battle is ongoing.”
More than 2,000 people have died in recent months in fighting between Ukrainian government forces and the separatists. Some 330,000 people have been displaced.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has announced a second humanitarian convoy for eastern Ukraine (photo RIA Novosti)
The Russian and Ukrainian presidents are scheduled to meet in Minsk, Belarus, on Tuesday for talks on the crisis.
Sergei Lavrov said he had sent a note to the Ukrainian foreign ministry on Sunday informing it of the new convoy.
He told a news conference on Monday: “The humanitarian situation is not improving but deteriorating.
“We want to reach an agreement on all conditions for delivering a second convoy by the same route… in the coming days.”
Russia said the first convoy had delivered generators, food and drink.
Ukrainian sources said a column of about 30 armored vehicles had entered from Russia close to the port city of Mariupol on Monday, bearing symbols of the self-styled Donetsk People’s Republic.
Mariupol is in the hands of Ukrainian government forces, who ousted rebels in May.
When asked about a possible Russian incursion, Sergei Lavrov said that “there is enough disinformation”.
Ukraine and Western powers have accused Russia of arming the rebels, charges Moscow has denied.
There have been several previous reports of armored vehicles crossing the Ukrainian border.
Asked about Tuesday’s presidential meeting, Sergei Lavrov said: “We are ready… for any format as long as there is a result.”
He added that Russia wanted “to help Ukrainians agree among themselves”.
Sergei Lavrov also commented on the parading of captured Ukrainian government soldiers by rebels through the centre of Donetsk on Sunday.
Crowds lined the streets chanting “fascists” as the disheveled-looking prisoners walked by.
Sergei Lavrov said this was “nowhere near mistreatment” and that Ukrainian fighters’ actions often amounted to “war crimes”.
“I saw images of that parade and I didn’t see anything close to what could be considered as humiliating,” he said.
The violence in east Ukraine erupted in April when pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions declared independence from Kiev. This followed Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March.
France’s Prime Minister Manuel Valls has submitted the government’s resignation to President Francois Hollande and has been asked to form a new cabinet.
The French government was badly shaken on Sunday by criticism over its handling of the economy by economy minister Arnaud Montebourg.
Moments after Manuel Valls’s resignation President Francois Hollande issued a statement.
Francois Hollande asked Manuel Valls to set up a new cabinet “consistent with the direction [Francois Hollande] has set for the country”.
The prime minister had accused Arnaud Montebourg of “crossing a yellow line” after the economy minister had attacked austerity measures which he said were strangling France’s growth.
France’s Prime Minister Manuel Valls has submitted the government’s resignation to President Francois Hollande and has been asked to form a new cabinet
Arnaud Montebourg told a meeting of Socialists in eastern France that the time had come to put up a “just and sane resistance” to the “excessive obsessions of Germany’s conservatives”.
On Saturday, Arnaud Montebourg told Le Monde newspaper that Germany was trapped in an austerity policy that it imposed across Europe”.
He was backed up by education minister Benoit Hamon and appeared to have the support of culture minister Aurelie Filippetti, too.
Benoit Hamon called on Sunday for a revival in demand and for an end to German Chancellor Angela Merkel setting Europe’s direction: “You can’t sell anything to the French if they don’t have enough income.”
Manuel Valls became prime minister in March after a poor performance by President Francois Hollande’s Socialist party in local elections.
Earlier this month, the French government admitted it would be impossible to reach a previous growth forecast of 1%. Germany saw its economy shrink by 0.2% between April and June.
Arnaud Montebourg told French radio shortly before Manuel Valls announced the government’s resignation that he had no regrets about his remarks, “first of all because there’s no anger”.
There was no debate about authority, Arnaud Montebourg told Europe 1 radio, but a “debate about economic direction”.
Rioters in a Brazilian jail in the southern city of Cascavel have killed four fellow inmates and injured several others, police say.
At least 700 prisoners are reported to be involved in the uprising, which began on Sunday morning.
The prisoners are said to be unhappy about how the prison is run, as well as about food and hygiene there.
The trouble broke out when warders delivering food to inmates were reportedly overpowered.
As many as 1,000 prisoners then took over parts of the jail, ransacking and setting fire to much of it.
Rioters in a Brazilian jail in the southern city of Cascavel have killed four fellow inmates and injured several others
The rioting prisoners have their faces covered with improvised balaclavas.
The leaders of the rebellion are holding at least two prison guards hostage.
Violence between prisoners most likely involves members of rival drug gangs.
Negotiations are under way to put an end to the uprising, which has led to the destruction of most of the penitentiary, according to O Globo newspaper.
The Security Secretary of Parana State, Maria Tereza Uille Gomes, has travelled to Cascavel to take over the negotiations.
Brazil has the world’s fourth largest prison population, with half a million inmates in facilities meant to hold 300,000.
Across the country, many poorly resourced jails are in effect run by powerful crime gangs.
Earlier this year the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, called for an investigation into the high number of violent deaths in Brazil’s prisons after previous riots at a jail in the north of the country left dozens of people dead.
Beyonce closed Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards show with an epic nearly 20-minute performance.
She was joined onstage by husband Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy which brought her to tears, amid numerous divorce rumors.
Beyonce sang and danced in a metallic leotard while Blue Ivy and Jay-Z watched from their seats as the diva declared: “MTV, welcome to my world.”
As the accepted the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award at The Forum in Inglewood, California, she kissed her daughter and husband Jay-Z, who called her the “greatest living entertainer.”
Beyonce was joined onstage by husband Jay-Z and daughter Blue at the MTV VMA’s, amid numerous divorce rumors (photo Getty Images)
“I’m so full. I have nothing to say but I am filled with so much gratitude,” Beyonce told the cheering crowd as they chanted her name repeatedly.
Her performance easily outdid her competition throughout the night, though Beyonce lost video of the year, which instead went to a teary Miley Cyrus who let a homeless man accept her award for video of the year.
It was in sharp contrast to the 2013 VMAs, when Miley Cyrus twerked and danced shockingly onstage.
“Thank y’all, my name is Jesse and I accepting this award on behalf of the 1.6 million runaways and homeless youth in the United States who are starving, lost and scared for their lives right now. I know this because I am one of these people,” he said, as Miley Cyrus looked on.
“Though I may have been invisible to you in the streets, I have a lot of the same dreams that brought many of you here tonight.”
A 7-magnitude earthquake has struck near Puquio, central Peru, on August 24, the US Geological Survey has said.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, said Mario Casareto, spokesman for Peru’s fire agency.
Mario Casareto said authorities were still surveying the region, including the Ayacucho area where the quake was centered.
Peru quake occurred about 13 hours after a 6-magnitude temblor shook Northern California
The seismological service said in a preliminary report that the quake occurred at 23:21 GMT on August 24 and was centered about 26 miles east-northeast of an area called Tambo, and about 292 miles southeast of the capital of Lima. It had a depth of 36 miles.
Local media said that the quake was felt in parts of Lima and in many major cities of southeastern Peru, including Cuzco and Arequipa.
The quake occurred about 13 hours after a 6-magnitude temblor shook Northern California, near Napa.
Iggy Azalea fell backward off the stage, while performing Fancy during a pre-MTV VMAs concert at the Avalon Hollywood.
Guards quickly lifted 24-year-old Iggy Azalea off the ground, after asking if she was fine.
The rapper returned onstage to thunderous applause. Iggy Azalea laughed, finishing the song in the center of the stage with singer Charli XCX.
Iggy Azalea fell backward off the stage, while performing Fancy with Charli XCX (photo E Online)
Iggy Azalea shared an Instagram video of the fall with her 4.1 million followers.
In the caption, she wrote: “Sorry but it would be a crime not to share this with you all, I know I laughed. #StillFinishedtheSongTho #KeptOnRapping #TheShowMustGoOn.”
After finishing Fancy, Iggy Azalea told the crowd that this was her first time falling off a stage.
Iggy Azalea is nominated in seven categories for Sunday’s Video Music Awards – four for her Clueless-themed Fancy and three for her featured role on Ariana Grande’s Problem.
Jennifer Lopez was in the audience to witness the fall.
Iggy Azalea is scheduled to perform Black Widow with Rita Ora at the VMAs.
Suge Knight was shot during a pre-VMA party hosted by Chris Brown at 1OAK nightclub in West Hollywood, California, on early Sunday morning, August 24, Billboard reported.
The former Death Row Records CEO went into surgery following the incident and is now recovering in the ICU, according to TMZ.
Marion “Suge” Knight, 49, reportedly left the club himself before being spotted by police and sent to the hospital in an ambulance.
He was shot in the stomach, arm and other places, sources told TMZ.
The shooting took place at about 1:30 a.m on Sunday during a pre-VMA party hosted by Chris Brown at 1OAK.
The party is unaffiliated with MTV.
Others in attendance included Tyson Beckford, Robert Ri’chard and apl.de.ap.
Suge Knight was shot during a pre-VMA party hosted by Chris Brown at 1OAK nightclub in West Hollywood (photo Getty Images)
Two men and a woman were also shot.
“They were transported to local hospitals and they are expected to recover,” the L.A. Sheriff’s Department said in a statement to People magazine. The shooter is still unknown, but a gang rivalry could be a possible motive, according to TMZ.
About an hour-a-half before the shooting, a fight reportedly broke out between The Game’s entourage and the club’s security guards after the rapper was denied entry into the party. It’s unclear whether that incident was related to Suge Knight’s shooting, TMZ reported.
On Sunday morning, Chris Brown took to Twitter to speak out about what had happened.
“It’s disappointing that we as a society can’t enjoy ourselves without any altercations sometimes,” the singer tweeted.
“Miss me with the bullshit!”
This is the second time Suge Knight has been shot during a pre-VMA party.
In 2005, Suge Knight was shot in the leg during an event hosted by Kanye West at Shore Club in Miami Beach, Florida.
More than 500 bubbling methane vents have been found on the sea floor off the US east coast, researchers say.
The unexpected discovery indicates there are large volumes of the gas contained in a type of sludgy ice called methane hydrate.
There are concerns that these new seeps could be making a hitherto unnoticed contribution to global warming.
The scientists say there could be about 30,000 of these hidden methane vents worldwide.
Previous surveys along the Atlantic seaboard have shown only three seep areas beyond the edge of the US continental shelf.
The team behind the new findings studied what is termed the continental margin, the region of the ocean floor that stands between the coast and the deep ocean.
In an area between North Carolina and Massachusetts, they have now found at least 570 seeps at varying depths between 50m and 1,700m.
Their findings came as a bit of a surprise.
“It is the first time we have seen this level of seepage outside the Arctic that is not associated with features like oil or gas reservoirs or active tectonic margins,” said Prof. Adam Skarke from Mississippi State University, who led the study.
More than 500 bubbling methane vents have been found on the sea floor off the US east coast
The scientists have observed streams of bubbles but they have not yet sampled the gas within them.
However, they believe there is an abundance of circumstantial evidence pointing to methane.
Most of the seeping vents were located around 500m down, which is just the right temperature and pressure to create a sludgy confection of ice and gas called methane hydrate, or clathrate.
The scientists say that the warming of ocean temperatures might be causing these hydrates to send bubbles of gas drifting through the water column.
They do not appear to be reaching the surface.
“The methane is dissolving into the ocean at depths of hundreds of meters and being oxidized to CO2,” said Prof. Adam Skarke.
“But it is important to say we simply don’t have any evidence in this paper to suggest that any carbon coming from these seeps is entering the atmosphere.”
This research, though, does highlight the scale of methane that is under the waters.
Estimates suggest that these undersea sediments are one of the largest reservoirs on Earth, and contains around 10 times more carbon than the atmosphere.
Prof. Adam Skarke and his colleagues estimate that worldwide, there may be around 30,000 of the type of seeps they have discovered.
They acknowledge that this is a rough calculation but they believe that it could be significant.
While the vents may not be posing an immediate global warming threat, the sheer number means that our calculations on the potential sources of greenhouse gases may need revising.
The scientists also found abundant life around many of these seeps, but not perhaps as we know it.
The creatures they describe are termed chemosynthetic, meaning they derive energy from chemical reactions and not from the Sun as do photosynthetic organisms.
Others who have collaborated on the search for seeps say these discoveries are important.
“These are significant geochemically, as they and our research teams found perhaps one of the largest seeps yet discovered with very active methane bubbling and large amounts of frozen hydrates,” said Prof. Steve Ross, from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.
“These seeps are also significant biologically, as we have found unique chemosynthetic communities, huge range extensions and increased biodiversity.”
As to the energy potential of these new seeping sources, Prof. Adam Skarke is fairly pessimistic.
The research has been published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
British actor and director Richard Attenborough has died at the age of 90, his son has announced.
In a career that spanned six decades, Lord Richard Attenborough appeared in movies including Brighton Rock, World War Two prisoner of war thriller The Great Escape and later in dinosaur blockbuster Jurassic Park.
As a director Richard Attenborough was perhaps best known for Gandhi, which won him two Oscars.
Richard Attenborough had been in a nursing home with his wife for a number of years.
He had also been in a wheelchair since falling down stairs six years ago.
As a director Richard Attenborough was perhaps best known for Gandhi, which won him two Oscars (photo Getty Images)
Richard Attenborough died at lunchtime on August 24.
His family is expected to make a full statement on Monday.
Along with his naturalist brother David, Richard Attenborough was one of Britain’s best-known screen celebrities.
He started acting at the age of just 12, making his professional stage debut aged 18.
He married his wife Sheila in 1945. They had three children.
Richard Attenborough was appointed a CBE in 1967 and knighted nine years later in 1976, before being made a life peer in 1993.
A 6-magnitude earthquake has struck northern California, causing injuries and damage to buildings.
The US Geological Survey said the quake struck at 03:20 local time four miles north-west of the town of American Canyon, at a depth of 6.7 miles.
At least 87 people have been taken to hospital in the Napa area, with three of them seriously injured.
California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in order to deal with the effects of the quake.
Officials in Napa said in a statement that the quake had destroyed four mobile homes and made 16 buildings “uninhabitable”, as well as causing “approximately 50” gas main breaks and around 30 leaks from water mains.
A 6-magnitude earthquake has struck northern California, causing injuries and damage to buildings
Three historic buildings in the town had been hit and two commercial buildings “severely damaged”, the statement went on.
More than 10,000 households were without power in Napa, about six miles from the earthquake’s epicenter, and the surrounding area, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company said.
A Red Cross evacuation centre has been set up in a church in the city.
The California Highway Patrol in the San Francisco Bay area tweeted that it was “checking over crossings and bridges for obvious signs of structural integrity”, and asked residents to report any signs of problems.
The site of the earthquake was 51 miles from Sacramento and about 30 miles north-east of San Francisco, where many Twitter users say the earthquake woke them up.
Numerous small aftershocks were also reported on Sunday.
California lies on the San Andreas Fault, which forms the tectonic boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate, two of the large moving plates that form the Earth’s crust.
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and subsequent fires devastated the city.
In 1989, a powerful earthquake struck San Francisco, killing more than 60 people and injuring hundreds.
Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed two Ebola deaths in the country’s north-west.
They are the first reported Ebola cases outside West Africa since the outbreak there began, although it is not clear if they are directly linked to that outbreak.
So far 1,427 people have died from the Ebola virus.
The speed and extent of the outbreak has been “unprecedented”, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.
An estimated 2,615 people in West Africa have been infected with Ebola since March.
There is no known cure but some affected people have recovered after being given an experimental drug, ZMapp. However, supplies are now exhausted.
Also on Sunday, a British health worker infected with Ebola in Sierra Leone was flown back to the UK on an RAF jet. It is the first confirmed case of a Briton contracting the virus during the current outbreak.
Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed two Ebola deaths in the country’s north-west
Several people died in the past month after contracting an unidentified fever in the Equateur region of the DR Congo.
On Sunday, Health Minister Felix Kabange Numbi said two of eight fever victims had tested positive for Ebola.
A quarantine zone would be set up in a 62-mile radius in Boende where the cases had been registered.
He said this marked the seventh outbreak in DRC. The virus was first identified here in 1976 near the Ebola River.
Felix Kabange Numbi added that further tests were being carried out.
On Saturday, Sierra Leone parliament passed a new law making it a criminal offence to hide Ebola patients.
If approved by the president, those caught face up to two years in prison.
The move came after the Ivory Coast closed its land borders to prevent the spread of Ebola on to its territory.
The country has already imposed a ban on flights to and from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
Gabon, Senegal, Cameroon and South Africa have taken similar measures.
The WHO says travel bans do not work, and that what is needed is more doctors and officials to help trace those infected with Ebola, as well as more mobile laboratories.
The Ebola virus is spread between humans through direct contact with infected bloodily fluids. It is one of the world’s deadliest diseases, with up to 90% of cases resulting in death.
Justin Bieber was caught riding his three-wheeled Can-Am Spyder down the sidewalk on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills on August 21.
The 20-year-old singer was also seen getting close to pedestrians.
Justin Bieber was caught riding his three-wheeled Can-Am Spyder down the sidewalk on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills (photo Getty Images)
A spokesperson for the Beverly Hills Police Department says the incident could constitute a vehicle code violation, which is an infraction, adding to E! News: “We highly encourage Mr. Bieber to stay off the sidewalk and remain in traffic. This is incredibly unsafe. He’s safety in jeopardy.”
Justin Bieber, who is currently on probation for his vandalism conviction, was not pulled over, but the incident was recorded.
The Libyan Central Shield says its fighters have captured Tripoli’s international airport after ten days of clashes with nationalist armed groups.
Islamist-affiliated forces from Misrata and other cities took over Tripoli’s airport from the Zintan militia, which has held it for three years.
Libya’s new parliament, largely opposed to the Islamists, condemned the move.
Violence in Libya has surged recently between the rival groups who overthrew Muammar Gaddafi in the 2011 uprising.
Tripoli’s international airport, Libya’s largest, has been closed for over a month because of the fighting.
Hundreds have died since fighting broke out in Tripoli in July. Millions of dollars in damage has been caused to the airport.
Libya’s new parliament, the House of Representatives, said the groups now in control of the airport were “terrorist organizations”.
The new parliament, which is based in Tobruk because of violence in Libya’s main cities, has repeatedly called for the militia groups wielding power in the country to disband the join the nascent national army.
Islamist-affiliated forces from Misrata and other cities took over Tripoli’s airport from the Zintan militia
But so far, few have shown a willingness to disarm.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Misratan-led militia alliance called for the previous Islamist-dominated parliament to reconvene.
Umar Humaydan, who was himself a spokesman for the previous parliament, said that the move was necessary to “save the country’s sovereignty”.
It follows claims by the Misratan-led forces that they were targeted by mystery airstrikes for a second time this week.
However, correspondents say the call is likely to fall on deaf ears.
There were unconfirmed reports of battles continuing between rival armed groups on the outskirts of the city on Saturday evening. Explosions could also be heard in the capital.
The capture of the airport is a setback for Zintani forces, who are loosely allied to Gen Khalifa Haftar.
The ex-army chief, whose forces mainly operate in the east of the country, launched a campaign earlier this year against what he termed the “Islamist-dominated” government.
The country’s militias and political parties alike have had shifting alliances over the last two years.
Thousands have fled their homes to escape the violence.
More than three years after Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed, Libya’s police and army remain weak in comparison with the militias who control large parts of the country.
Cliff Richard has been questioned by the UK police in connection with an alleged historical assault.
Cliff Richard, 73, voluntarily met officers and was not arrested or charged.
It comes after police searched his home in Sunningdale, Berkshire, on August 14 as part of their investigation.
Cliff richard denies the alleged offence, saying the claim of an assault at a religious event in Sheffield in 1985 is “completely false”.
South Yorkshire Police confirmed it had spoken to a 73-year-old man.
Cliff Richard has been questioned by the UK police in connection with an alleged historical assault (photo Getty Images)
A police spokesman said: “The man was interviewed under caution but was not arrested. He entered South Yorkshire Police premises by arrangement.”
A spokesman for Cliff Richard said: “Today Sir Cliff Richard voluntarily met with and was interviewed by members of South Yorkshire Police. He was not arrested or charged.
“He co-operated fully with officers and answered the questions put to him.
“Other than restating that this allegation is completely false and that he will continue to co-operate fully with the police, it would not be appropriate for Sir Cliff to say anything further at this time.”
The allegation against Cliff Richard relates to an assault claim at an event featuring preacher Billy Graham at the Bramall Lane stadium in Sheffield in 1985.
Thousands of people gathered in the New York borough of Staten Island near the site of Eric Garner’s death to march in protest against police killings.
Eric Garner, a 43-year-old black man, died in July after being placed in a chokehold as police arrested him for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes.
The march was led by the Rev. Al Sharpton and relatives of Eric Garner.
Eric Garner died weeks before black teenager Michael Brown was killed in Missouri.
Michael Brown, 18, was shot dead on August 9 after being stopped by a police officer for walking in the street in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson.
The killing sparked days of protest culminating in the deployment of the National Guard, which was withdrawn on August 22.
Some of the protesters in New York displayed banners saying “Black lives matter” while others demanded justice in the cases of both Eric Garner and Michael Brown, as a large police contingent looked on.
The Staten Island march was led by the Rev. Al Sharpton and relatives of Eric Garner
Some shops were closed for the day on August 23, amid fears the protest could turn violent as happened in Ferguson earlier this week.
However, civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton repeatedly warned demonstrators that such action would not be tolerated. He said that Eric Garner’s death was a defining moment for police nationwide.
In the event protesters filed peacefully past the spot where Mr Garner was held to the ground by police as the marchers processed towards the Staten Island prosecutor’s office.
“We will prevail,” the black reverend – who was accompanied by Eric Garner’s widow and several of his children – told the crowd.
“They will not cry alone.”
The demonstrators demanded the prosecution of Daniel Pantaleo, the suspended police officer who arrested Eric Garner. Some chanted “Hands up, don’t shoot” – the slogan often used by the Ferguson demonstrators.
A New York grand jury is considering criminal charges against Daniel Pantaleo.
Eric Garner, who had asthma, was heard on a witness video shouting “I can’t breathe!” as police arrested him.
A medical examiner has ruled his death a homicide.
However, the New York City medical examiner’s office said other factors contributed to his death included asthma and heart disease.
Eric Garner’s death provoked an outcry, especially after a video of Officer Daniel Pantaleo placing him in a chokehold became public.
Chokeholds are banned by the New York Police Department and Commissioner William Bratton has ordered an internal review of training.
Maria Shriver, the estranged wife of Arnold Schwarzenegger, is reportedly dating political analyst Matthew Dowd.
Maria Shriver, 58, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, 67, separated in 2011 after he confessed to fathering a lovechild with their maid, Mildred Baena, 14 years prior.
The NBC News special correspondent filed for divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger since 2011, but it has yet to be finalized.
Maria Shriver filed for divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2011 and now she’s seeing Matthew Dowd
Maria Shriver has reportedly been seeing Matthew Dowd since November 2013 and earlier this month they attended actress Cheryl Hines’ wedding to Robert Kennedy, Jr. in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, together, according to the New York Post.
Maria Shriver is a member of the Kennedy family as her mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, was a sister of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Edward Kennedy.
Matthew Dowd, 53, was the chief strategist for the Bush-Cheney 2004 presidential campaign.
Lauren Bacall’s will has revealed that the movie icon has left $10,000 for the care of her beloved dog, Sophie.
Lauren Bacall, who died in Manhattan, New York earlier this month at the age of 89, left behind a $26.6 million estate.
According to the New York Daily News, Lauren Bacall’s grandsons will inherit $250,000 each, two longtime employees will share $35,000 and her papillon, Sophie, will be taken care of thanks to a $10,000 lump sum.
Lauren Bacall has left $10,000 for the care of her beloved dog, Sophie (photo AFP/Getty Images)
Papers were filed on August 22 in Manhattan Surrogate’s Court.
The rest of Lauren Bacall’s estate, including her apartment in the Dakota building and its contents, will be split between her three children, Leslie Bogart, Stephen Humphrey Bogart and Sam Robards, who will become the dog’s guardian.
Lauren Bacall’s kids have also been named the executors of her estate, and they will take charge of the actress’ likeness rights, although in the will, signed late last year, the actress stipulated: “I request that my children respect my wish to keep private certain personal letters, writings, diaries and other papers or memorabilia.”
