Home Blog Page 540

Bavaria: Mysterious crop circle discovered in Raisting wheat field

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Bavaria: Mysterious crop circle discovered in Raisting wheat field

Thousands of visitors have been attracted by a mysterious crop circle since it was spotted in a Bavarian wheat field last week.

The circle in Raisting, upper Bavaria, has a diameter of 246ft and is formed of three rings.

It was discovered last week by hot air balloonists and word quickly spread through internet forums of the find.

The circle in Raisting, upper Bavaria, has a diameter of 246ft and is formed of three rings
The circle in Raisting, upper Bavaria, has a diameter of 246ft and is formed of three rings

“They sang, danced, played guitar… and slept in the field,” a woman who lives nearby said of the area’s new visitors to the site, the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported.

Farmer Christoph Huttner, who owns the wheat field near Weilheim, told the dpa news agency Tuesday he didn’t create the circle himself.

Christoph Huttner suggests students on summer holiday may have cut the image into his field.

The news agency says thousands of visitors have come to sing, dance and even swing pendulums in the giant image.

Christoph Huttner says he’s not yet sure whether he will leave the circle in his field.

[youtube yBhqO-SaI1U 650]

MH17 crash: Forensic experts find human remains at crash site

Diane A. Wade
-
0
MH17 crash: Forensic experts find human remains at crash site

Dutch and Australian forensic experts have found human remains at the site of the flight MH17 crash in east Ukraine.

They made their discovery on their first full day of searching at the site, an area of some 13.5 sq miles inside the conflict zone.

Local search parties found 227 of the 298 victims earlier and they were flown to the Netherlands for identification.

Fighting still rages, with 10 Ukrainian soldiers killed nearby on Thursday.

Dutch and Australian forensic experts have found human remains at the site of the flight MH17 crash in east Ukraine
Dutch and Australian forensic experts have found human remains at the site of the flight MH17 crash in east Ukraine

The fighting between government troops and pro-Russian separatist rebels had previously prevented the investigators reaching the area.

Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 airliner came down on July 17 with the loss of all 298 passengers and crew, while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

After Ukraine’s military declared a unilateral one-day suspension of operations against the rebels in Donetsk region on Thursday, an exploratory visit was made by the forensic experts, followed by the full deployment on Friday.

It is now unclear whether Ukraine’s army or separatist forces control the site, as fighting continues nearby.

The head of the search mission, Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, announced that it had completed its first day of work and had recovered human remains which would be sent to the Netherlands.

He said the mission was moving to a new base in the Donetsk town of Soledar.

The investigators had travelled in 16 vehicles to the crash site, outside the village of Grabove, along with monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Artillery fire could be heard periodically somewhere in the distance during the work on Friday, AP news agency reports.

[youtube G8Sm6p7lfeY 650]

US gains 209,000 jobs in July 2014

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
US gains 209,000 jobs in July 2014

The US economy added 209,000 jobs in July bringing the unemployment rate to 6.2%, latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics has shown.

The biggest job gains were in professional business services and manufacturing jobs.

On Wednesday, the Commerce Department said the US economy grew by a better-than-expected 4% during the April-to-June period.

In an encouraging sign, the number of people in the US labor market increased slightly, meaning that workers who may have given up looking for a job have now begun to re-enter the jobs market.

The May and June jobs data were also revised upwards to show that the US economy added 15,000 more jobs.

Some economists had been expecting even larger figures, and US stock markets were down on the less-than-expected gains.

The US economy added 209,000 jobs in July bringing the unemployment rate to 6.2 percent
The US economy added 209,000 jobs in July bringing the unemployment rate to 6.2 percent

The Dow dropped nearly 80 points, following steep losses the day before.

Nonetheless, most analysts agreed that there was nothing obviously negative about the report.

July is often one of the weaker months for jobs growth, which is one possible reason for the uptick in the unemployment rate.

However, the figures are encouraging, as the US economy needs to add at least 150,000 jobs each month simply to keep up with population growth.

This is the sixth straight month that the US economy has added more than 200,000 jobs.

Yet there are still reasons to be concerned: wage growth remains flat and the number of long-term unemployed – those out of work for longer than six months – was essentially unchanged at 3.2 million, or a third of those looking for work.

US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen recently highlighted that while the employment data is certain better than in the aftermath of the 2008-2009 recession, challenges remain.

[youtube N-BbJKFiaGY 650]

Gaza: Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin believed captured by Hamas militants

Roy Siemens
-
0
Gaza: Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin believed captured by Hamas militants

Israeli forces say one of its soldiers is believed captured, as a 72-hour truce with Hamas in Gaza collapsed just hours after it had begun.

The soldier, named as Hadar Goldin, 23, disappeared when Israeli forces trying to destroy a suspected militant tunnel were attacked, Israel’s military said.

Two soldiers died in firefight in southern Gaza Strip at 9:30 local time.

The Gaza health ministry said dozens were killed by Israeli shelling in the area shortly after the incident.

In 2006 Palestinian militants captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and held him for five years.

Israeli forces say one of its soldiers is believed captured, as a 72-hour truce with Hamas in Gaza collapsed just hours after it had begun
Israeli forces say one of its soldiers is believed captured, as a 72-hour truce with Hamas in Gaza collapsed just hours after it had begun

Gilad Shalit was released in November 2011 in exchange for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas has not confirmed or denied capturing a soldier.

Some 1,460 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in the latest conflict and 63 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

The ceasefire had been brokered by the US and UN to give civilians a reprieve from the violence, and had been seen as an unforeseen breakthrough after days of diplomatic deadlock.

Also on Friday, Palestinian and Israeli delegations arrived in Cairo, Egypt, with the hope of negotiating a longer-term cessation of hostilities, but Egyptian officials said the talks had now been postponed.

A senior Israeli official said Hamas had breached the ceasefire and Israel’s response would be “crushing”.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoun said: “The Israelis are the ones who breached the ceasefire, and the Palestinian resistance acted in a way that ensures its right of self-defense.”

Another Hamas official said the announcement of the soldier’s capture was “a justification for Israel retreating from the truth and a cover-up for massacres”.

Palestinian media reported that Hamas had called for a “day of anger” across the West Bank.

Muhammad Ali boxing gloves fetch $388,000 at Cleveland auction

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Muhammad Ali boxing gloves fetch $388,000 at Cleveland auction

Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves worn during his 1971 fight with Joe Frazier have been sold at a Cleveland auction for $388,375.

The boxing gloves have been bought by an anonymous bidder.

Joe Frazier beat Muhammad Ali by a unanimous decision to become the undisputed World Heavyweight Champion in 1971
Joe Frazier beat Muhammad Ali by a unanimous decision to become the undisputed World Heavyweight Champion in 1971

The bout, dubbed the “Fight of the Century”, saw Joe Frazier beat Muhammad Ali by a unanimous decision to become the undisputed World Heavyweight Champion.

Muhammad Ali later beat Joe Frazier in 1974 and 1975, cementing his reputation as the greatest boxer of all time.

The fight was laden with political as well as sporting significance, as Muhammad Ali had been stripped of his title for refusing to enlist in the US Army during the Vietnam War.

A previous pair of gloves worn by Muhammad Ali in his first World Championship fight were sold for $836,500 by the same auction house.

[youtube -ZwcmYGpZDQ 650]

Russia bans imports of fruit and vegetables from Poland in apparent retaliation for sanctions

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Russia bans imports of fruit and vegetables from Poland in apparent retaliation for sanctions

Russia has banned the imports of fruit and vegetables from Poland, depriving it of a major export market.

Russia’s food hygiene authorities said the imports had unacceptable levels of pesticide residues and nitrates.

They earn Poland more than 1 billion euros ($1.35 billion) annually.

Russia is Poland’s biggest market for apples.

The move follows EU sanctions against Russia over Ukraine – and Poland has condemned Russian actions there.

Russia has banned the imports of fruit and vegetables from Poland, depriving it of a major export market
Russia has banned the imports of fruit and vegetables from Poland, depriving it of a major export market

Poland and some other former communist bloc countries are among the most vocal critics of Russia in the current crisis, accusing Moscow of supplying the separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine with arms and volunteers.

The cost to Poland of the import ban is likely to be 0.6% of GDP (national output) by the end of the year, Polish Deputy PM Janusz Piechocinski was quoted as saying.

Agriculture accounts for about 3.8% of Poland’s total GDP. Polish growers plan to seek compensation from the EU for the loss of earnings.

Poles have been posting images of apples on social media as a way of protesting against Russia.

On Thursday Russia announced a ban on more imported Ukrainian food: soy products, cornmeal, sunflowers and fruit juice.

Earlier Russia banned Ukrainian dairy produce and canned fish and vegetables. Last year it banned Ukrainian Roshen chocolate, produced by billionaire businessman Petro Poroshenko, who is now Ukraine’s president.

Previously Russia also imposed such boycotts on Georgia and Moldova – former Soviet republics, like Ukraine, whose pro-Western policies have angered the Kremlin.

Russia is an important export market for Georgian and Moldovan wine. Currently Russia is blocking imports of Moldovan fruit. In each case the Russian authorities say they have public health reasons for imposing a ban.

In January – before its March annexation of Crimea – Russia also imposed a ban on imports of pigs and pork from the EU.

The European Commission says that move was “disproportionate”, closing a market worth 25% of total EU pig and pork exports. In 2013 those exports to Russia totaled 1.4 billion euros.

Rolf Harris to appeal against assault conviction

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Rolf Harris to appeal against assault conviction

Rolf Harris has applied for permission to appeal against his assault conviction, a spokesman for the Judicial Office says.

The 84-year-old entertainer was jailed in July for five years and nine months for 12 assaults.

The Judicial Office said his lawyers had lodged papers at the Court of Appeal.

A judge will now decide if his appeal bid should progress to a full hearing.

Rolf Harris has applied for permission to appeal against his assault conviction
Rolf Harris has applied for permission to appeal against his assault conviction (photo Getty Images)

On Wednesday, Attorney General Jeremy Wright decided not to refer Rolf Harris’s sentence to the Court of Appeal despite 150 complaints over its “leniency”.

Jeremy Wright said he did not think judges would find it to be unduly lenient and increase it.

Rolf Harris, an artist, TV presenter and musician, was found guilty of all 12 assaults of which he was accused in his trial at Southwark Crown Court in London.

His victims included a young autograph hunter, two girls in their early teens and a friend of his daughter’s against whom he committed a catalogue of abuse over several years.

The offences took place between 1968 and 1986.

Rolf Harris has been stripped of a Bafta fellowship and accolades in his native Australia. He also faces losing his CBE.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed it has received “a number of allegations” about Rolf Harris since his conviction, which are being investigated.

[youtube 9OmWxMMdyys 650]

Gaza: Israel resumes military operations as Hamas breaks planned 72-hour ceasefire

Roy Siemens
-
0
Gaza: Israel resumes military operations as Hamas breaks planned 72-hour ceasefire

Israel’s military is resuming its operations in Gaza, saying Hamas broke planned 72-hour ceasefire just hours after it had begun.

The army said it had warned residents to stay indoors.

Palestinian sources said at least 27 people had been killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza. Israel said it was in response to rocket fire from Hamas.

Some 1,460 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in the conflict and 63 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

Israel is resuming its operations in Gaza, saying Hamas broke planned 72-hour ceasefire just hours after it had begun
Israel is resuming its operations in Gaza, saying Hamas broke planned 72-hour ceasefire just hours after it had begun

The ceasefire had been brokered by the US and UN to give civilians a reprieve from the violence, and had been seen as an unforeseen breakthrough after days of diplomatic deadlock.

Palestinian and Israeli delegations have arrived in Cairo, Egypt, with the hope of negotiating a longer-term cessation of hostilities, but the fate of the talks now seems unclear.

During the morning life appeared to be returning to some kind of normality in Gaza, with many Palestinians heading towards heavily shelled areas to see if their homes were still intact.

But the Gaza health ministry reported that at least 27 Palestinians were killed and 100 injured in an Israeli attack near the southern town of Rafah after the ceasefire began.

AFP news agency said the artillery barrage was continuing, preventing medics from recovering dead and wounded from the site.

[youtube RZ7MdmpMkDc 650]

Ebola outbreak: Infected US aid worker transferred to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta

Kathryn R. Bown
-
0
Ebola outbreak: Infected US aid worker transferred to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta

Emory University Hospital in Atlanta is preparing to receive a US aid worker infected with the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa.

The unnamed patient will be flown to the US in the next few days for treatment at a high-security ward at Emory University Hospital, medics said.

The worst Ebola outbreak in history has swept through the region, killing 729 people.

A spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said her agency was working on the transfer with the US State Department.

Barbara Reynolds said she was not aware of any Ebola patient ever being treated in the US before.

The worst Ebola outbreak in history has swept through West Africa, killing 729 people
The worst Ebola outbreak in history has swept through West Africa, killing 729 people

In a statement, the Atlanta hospital said it has an isolation unit which is specially equipped to deal with this kind of infection.

On Friday, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) and leaders of West African nations affected by the Ebola outbreak are expected to announce a joint $100 million response plan.

Sierra Leone’s president has declared a public health emergency over the outbreak after 233 people died there.

Ebola spreads through human contact with a sufferer’s bodily fluids.

Initial flu-like symptoms can lead to external hemorrhaging from areas like eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can lead to organ failure. It kills up to 90% of those infected.

The US health authorities have warned against travelling to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone as they strive to tackle the Ebola outbreak, and 50 extra American specialists are being sent to affected areas.

American Dr. Kent Brantly with Ebola in Liberia has taken a “slight turn for the worse”, the Samaritan’s Purse aid agency said on Thursday.

Kent Brantly and another American worker, Nancy Writebol, “are in a stable but grave condition”, the agency said in a statement.

The statement said that Dr. Kent Brantly had been offered experimental serum – using blood from a child whose life he saved – but he had insisted that Nancy Writebol should receive it instead.

Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health in the US has said it will begin testing a possible vaccine in September.

[youtube rTUcxTgkpQc 650]

Siegfried Sassoon’s war diaries published online for first time

James J. Williams
-
0
Siegfried Sassoon’s war diaries published online for first time

Siegfried Sassoon’s war diaries are being published online for the first time.

The archive of 23 journals and two notebooks of poetry have been digitized by the Cambridge University Library, which bought the collection in 2009.

Until now only Siegfried Sassoon’s official biographer – Max Egremont – has had access to the complete 4,100-page archive due to its fragile state.

Librarian Anne Jarvis said the war diaries were of “towering importance”.

The journals, which are made freely available online from Friday, offer a unique insight into life on the front line during World War One.

Writing in a “distinctive” but clear hand, the war poet describes life in the trenches, including the moment he was shot by a sniper at the Battle of Arras, and his depiction of the first day of the Battle of the Somme as a “sunlit picture of hell”.

Siegfried Sassoon’s writing was inspired by his first-hand experience as a serving officer in the Great War
Siegfried Sassoon’s writing was inspired by his first-hand experience as a serving officer in the Great War (photo Wikipedia)

Siegfried Sassoon’s observations are often accompanied by pencil or ink sketches, notes on military briefings, and diagrams of the trenches – and bear the ravages of war, including mud and candle wax on the pages and binding.

“From his <<Soldier’s Declaration>> to his eyewitness accounts of the first day of battle on the Somme, the Sassoon archive is a collection of towering importance, not just to historians, but to anyone seeking to understand the horror, bravery and futility of the First World War as experienced by those on the front lines and in the trenches,” said Anne Jarvis.

“We are honored to be able to make them available to everyone, anywhere in the world, on the 100th anniversary of the First World War,” she added.

English poet Siegfried Sassoon, whose writing was inspired by his first-hand experience as a serving officer in the Great War, is now recognized as a leading war poet of his generation.

Poems included in the collection include previously unpublished material, such as Absolution, understood to be his war poem, written before he was posted to the front line. There are also early drafts of some of his best-known works such as The Dug-Out – with an additional verse which Siegfried Sassoon later removed.

The journals, which intersperse both prose and poetry, cover both the war years – when Siegfried Sassoon was stationed on the Western Front and in Palestine – and post-war years up to 1927, and from 1931-1932.

Bob McDonnell trial: Jonnie Williams denies affair with Maureen McDonnell

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Bob McDonnell trial: Jonnie Williams denies affair with Maureen McDonnell

Jonnie R. Williams, the key witness in a corruption trial of ex-Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen, has testified the former first lady sought gifts and loans in return for help with his business.

Prosecutors say Jonnie Williams gave Bob and Maureen McDonnell gifts and loans totaling $165,000 (£97,000).

Bob McDonnell denies wrongdoing. His wife says their marriage was frayed and she had a “crush” on Jonnie Williams.

On Thursday, Jonnie Williams said buying gifts for the couple was poor judgment.

Jonnie Williams, the head of a vitamin supplements company called Star Scientific, said buying a $6,000 Rolex watch on the request of Maureen McDonnell was “a bad decision on my part”.

“I shouldn’t have had to buy things like that to get the help I needed,” Jonnie Williams told jurors as they inspected the watch in question.

He also denied being friends with the McDonnells.

Prosecutors say Jonnie Williams gave Bob and Maureen McDonnell gifts and loans totaling $165,000
Prosecutors say Jonnie Williams gave Bob and Maureen McDonnell gifts and loans totaling $165,000

Prosecutors say Bob McDonnell was in financial need and traded on his position to win gifts of travel and cash from Jonnie Williams, for whom he arranged meetings with state officials.

However, Bob McDonnell argues he was only doing for Jonnie Williams what he would for any Virginia businessman.

On Wednesday, Jonnie Williams testified Maureen McDonnell asked him for money and to pay for high-end shopping trips, offering to connect him to the governor in return.

Jonnie Williams, to whom prosecutors have granted immunity, said he insisted on speaking to the governor before giving her any cash, and testified that the governor subsequently thanked him for his generosity.

As his testimony resumed on Thursday, the chief executive said he refused some of Maureen McDonnell’s requests because he believed they would be too visible – including vehicles for two of Bob McDonnell’s children and purchasing the couple’s money-losing rental properties.

Jonnie Williams also said he decided against a secret stock transfer to Bob McDonnell because he could not have hid the transaction from US regulators.

Bob McDonnell, once a rising star in the Republican Party with aspirations for national office, left office in disgrace in January at the end of his term. Virginia governors are barred from running for a second consecutive term, and he was succeeded by Democrat Terry McAuliffe.

[youtube AKPMkE4fEJ8 650]

Taiwan gas explosions kill 25 people in Kaohsiung

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Taiwan gas explosions kill 25 people in Kaohsiung

Several gas explosions in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung has killed 25 people and injured 267 others, officials say.

The blasts rocked the city’s Cianjhen district, scattering cars and blowing deep trenches in roads.

The exact cause of the gas leaks is not clear, but reports say the blasts were caused by ruptured pipelines.

Images of the scene showed major fires, upturned vehicles, bodies covered in debris and streets split in two.

The explosions happened late on Thursday night, with witnesses reporting huge fireballs soaring into the air. Taiwan’s prime minister said there were at least five blasts.

“The local fire department received calls of gas leaks late Thursday and then there was a series of blasts around midnight affecting an area of two to three sq km [one sq mile],” the National Fire Agency said in a statement.

The blasts rocked the city's Cianjhen district, scattering cars and blowing deep trenches in roads
The blasts rocked the city’s Cianjhen district, scattering cars and blowing deep trenches in roads (photo AFP)

Four firefighters who were investigating reports of a gas leak were said to be among the dead.

People in the area were evacuated to schools as teams battled the blazes. By Friday morning most fires were reported to have been extinguished.

The exact cause of the blasts had not yet been identified but several petrochemical companies had pipelines running along the sewage system in the district.

“The cause of the gas leak is still not clear at this moment. We suspect the leaked gas could be propylene,” said Economic Affairs Minister Chang Chia-chu.

One witness told AFP news agency he saw “fire soaring up to possibly 20 storey high after a blast”.

Another told Taiwan’s Central News Agency that the “explosions were like thunder and the road in front of my shop ripped open”.

People had been ordered to stay home from school and work in Kaohsiung’s Cianjhen and Lingya districts on Friday, local media reported.

Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chu wrote on her Facebook page (in Chinese): “Rescue efforts are still underway.”

She urged everyone to “follow the instructions of rescue teams at the scene, and avoid standing around and watching”.

“The local government has already requested [gas suppliers] CPC and Hsin Kao Gas cut off the gas supply,” she added, urging residents to stay calm.

The local government has set up an emergency response centre.

[youtube tQ8i0Gjwd5s 650]

Why the US dollar is on the rise

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Why the US dollar is on the rise

USD has been noticing a continued spike in the last week, especially so for the most traded pair EUR/USD. The rise of the USD has been a basis of conjecture for many analysts who have seen the currency being debased in the last five years and still continues to rise at an astronomical rate. In the last two years, U.S. Dollar index is up by 10% as compared to the other top currencies of the world. Read more on anyoption for details regarding the strengthening dollar and its impact on the Eurozone.

The strengthening of the US dollar in the last few days has been initiated by European Central Bank when they slashed the interest rates on June 5th. The president of ECB further informed that the interest rates will remain low for some time now. The governor of Britain, Mark Carney, also said that the British economy is too weak to fiddle with the benchmark rate of interest which was implied by the rise in long term bond yields. The other thing that supported the dollar was the 2.1% increase in the Consumer Price Index which did not hit the downward spiral despite the inflation. The increased cost of CPI has been attributed to 3.3% rise in the gasoline prices which has been the largest gain since last year.

What the experts explain is the main reason for the rise of US dollar is that it is the reserve currency of the world. The majority of nations use dollar as the currency to buy commodities such as oil which keeps propelling the US economy towards betterment. The monetary stimulus of the Federal Reserve can take the credit for keeping the dollar strong against other currencies. However, it has been speculated that when the stimulus weakens or ends, it can have strong impact on the currency.

With the dollar at an all time high, the vacations to US will be affected as it will be pricier than usual. The immediate spur of the rising dollar has been pointing towards the Federal Reserve’s purchases of the bonds that have been bought using the freshly minted currency. The quantitative easing has already augured well for the long term interest rates with yields rising to a 2.6% from the downward low of 1.6%. When the yields show an upward trend, it attracts more capital investments in America from other parts of the world which propels the dollar towards growth.

The deeper insight into the upward trend of the dollar can be seen in the overall health of the economy of America which is currently in a good shape. With housing market on recover mode, bad mortgage debts wiped out of the system and opportunistic job market with 195,000 employees added to the non-farming sector is a big boost to the economy. Despite the holistic growth, GDP has remained modest and will strengthen a bit in the coming days.  As per the IMF projections, the American Economy is expected to grow at a 2.7% rate next year. Even though this is not a classic improvement, but as compared to the other economies of Japan and Britain are not likely to do this well and with Euro zone still in the recessionary phase will keep America at the top.

The transatlantic gap in the interest rates of the both the markets are expected to rise as the monetary policies of America and Europe become clearer. With this trend, the dollar will rise further.

Meriam Ibrahim arrives in New Hampshire

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Meriam Ibrahim arrives in New Hampshire

Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, the Sudanese woman who fled to Italy after being spared a death sentence for renouncing Islam, has arrived in the US.

Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag arrived in New Hampshire on Thursday evening with her American husband and her children.

Welcoming her on a brief stopover in Philadelphia, the city’s mayor, Michael Nutter, described her as a “world freedom fighter”.

There was global condemnation when Meriam Ibrahim was sentenced to hang for apostasy by a Sudanese court earlier this year.

Meriam Ibrahim’s father is Muslim so according to Sudan’s version of Islamic law she is also Muslim and cannot convert.

She maintains she was never Muslim having been raised by her Christian mother.

Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag arrived in New Hampshire on Thursday evening with her American husband and her children
Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag arrived in New Hampshire on Thursday evening with her American husband and her children

Meriam Ibrahim flew from Rome to Philadelphia with her husband and two children, en route to Manchester, New Hampshire, where her husband has relatives and the family hope to settle.

While in Philadelphia, Michael Nutter said people would remember her just like “others who stood up so we could be free”.

He compared her to Rosa Parks, who became a symbol of the civil rights movement in the US when she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Alabama.

Michael Nutter presented Meriam Ibrahim with a small replica of the Liberty Bell, a symbol of American independence.

Her next stop was Manchester, and there were about 40 relatives and supporters at the airport to greet her.

He said her husband said a few words, in which he thanked the US government for its strong stance, the New Hampshire senators who worked hard to arrange her asylum and the people of Sudan for their support.

Meriam Ibrahim’s husband, Daniel Wani, also a Christian, is from South Sudan and has US nationality.

Their daughter Maya was born in prison in May, shortly after Meriam Ibrahim was sentenced to hang for renouncing one’s faith.

Under intense international pressure, her conviction was quashed and she was freed in June although she was initially stopped from leaving the country and the family took refuge at the US embassy in Khartoum.

When in Rome, Meriam Ibrahim met Pope Francis, who “thanked her for her witness to faith”, according to a Vatican spokesman.

[youtube 7tZb8J4Qy0E 650]

Gaza: US in its strongest criticism yet of Israel’s offensive in Palestinian territory

Roy Siemens
-
0
Gaza: US in its strongest criticism yet of Israel’s offensive in Palestinian territory

The US – Israel’s closest ally – has said the shelling of a UN shelter in Gaza is “totally unacceptable and totally indefensible”.

In its strongest criticism yet of Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian territory, the US urged Israel to do more to protect civilian life.

A quarter of Gaza’s population has been displaced by the fighting, the UN says.

Israel says its operation in Gaza is designed to defend its population from attacks by Palestinian militants.

It blames the Hamas militant group for most of the civilian deaths in Gaza, saying its fighters deliberately operate from civilian areas.

The Israeli army has now “neutralized” 70-80% of Hamas’ offensive tunnel network into Israel.

In its strongest criticism yet of Israel's offensive in the Palestinian territory, the US urged Israel to do more to protect civilian life
In its strongest criticism yet of Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian territory, the US urged Israel to do more to protect civilian life

Israel says it will not stop its operation in Gaza until all the tunnels – which militants use to infiltrate Israeli territory – have been destroyed.

Since Israel began its offensive in Gaza on July 8, 1,422 Palestinians have been killed and 8,265 injured, most of them civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

This means more Palestinians have now been killed than during Operation Cast Lead – the last time Israel launched a ground invasion in Gaza – in 2008-2009.

Fifty-eight Israelis have been killed in total – 56 soldiers and two civilians. A Thai worker in Israel has also died.

“There is a difference in approach between what Hamas is perpetrating on the Israeli people and what Israel is doing to defend their country,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.

“But the shelling of a UN facility that is housing innocent civilians who are fleeing violence is totally unacceptable and totally indefensible, and it is clear that we need our allies in Israel to do more to live up to high standards that they have set for themselves.”

He was referring to an incident on Wednesday, when at least 16 people were killed when shellfire hit a UN-run school designated as a civilian shelter in the Jabaliya district of Gaza City.

Josh Earnest said there was little doubt that the shells were fired by the Israeli military.

The UN has also condemned the continuing violence.

“The reality of Gaza today is that no place is safe,” UN humanitarian chief Baroness Valerie Amos told the Security Council.

[youtube Q6YK7dWAxJo 650]

Taiwan gas explosions kill at least 5 people in Kaohsiung

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Taiwan gas explosions kill at least 5 people in Kaohsiung

Multiple gas explosions in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung has killed at least five people and injured hundreds of others.

Reports say the blasts were caused by ruptured gas pipelines.

Several gas explosions have hit the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung
Several gas explosions have hit the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung

Images and footage from the scene show major fires and significant damage to roads and buildings.

“At least 212 people who were injured have been rushed to hospitals for treatment,” the National Fire Agency said.

Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that before the explosion, smoke with a “gas-like smell” came out of drains into the streets.

[youtube P3jnxFXPm2Y 650]

Robert Halmi Sr. dies at his New York home aged 90

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Robert Halmi Sr. dies at his New York home aged 90

TV producer Robert Halmi Sr. has died at his New York home aged 90.

Robert Halmi Sr., whose work won dozens of Emmy Awards, began his career in the US as a photographer before turning his hand to TV.

His many productions included Gypsy starring Bette Midler, Gulliver’s Travels and Alice in Wonderland.

Robert Halmi Sr., who was born in Hungary, worked with his son Robert Halmi Jr., with the pair making a number of big budget productions in the 1990s.

In 1994, they produced an epic TV remake of Civil War classic Gone With The Wind, which Robert Halmi Sr. dubbed “an eight-hour study in American history”.

Robert Halmi Sr. began his career in the US as a photographer before turning his hand to TV
Robert Halmi Sr. began his career in the US as a photographer before turning his hand to TV (photo Getty Images)

Numerous projects were headed up by big stars and landed impressive ratings, including The Lion in Winter which starred Glenn Close and was screened in 2004.

Robert Halmi began his career in television in the early 1960s and continued to make programs well into his senior years, including Neverland, based on the story of Peter Pan in 2011, and a remake of Treasure Island a year later.

He was also executive producer on the 13-part Olympus mini-series, which has yet to be completed and is due to air next year on the Syfy channel.

In 1993, Robert Halmi said that TV production had turned into a business populated by “money people”, saying: “I’m somebody with pretty good taste who goes one step further.”

“With the creative process, everything has to be nurtured. I know on every project, every day, where it stands dollars-and-cents-wise, but I also know if someone has a cold,” he added.

Aside from numerous prizes for his productions, Robert Halmi Sr. was honored with a prestigious Peabody Award in 1999 for his personal contribution to the business.

He was hailed as “perhaps the last of the great network television impresarios”.

Before emigrating to the US, Robert Halmi Sr. was twice captured during the Second World War in his native Hungary, once by the Nazis and again by the Soviets while spying on behalf of the Americans.

5 Tips for Choosing the Right Hearing Aid

Kathryn R. Bown
-
0
5 Tips for Choosing the Right Hearing Aid

 man-holding-a-hearing-aid-right-hand-wearing-a-suitHearing aids have entered the future. Sleek, technologically advanced and comfortable, today’s hearing aids have also become less visible and less difficult to use, and they assist in hearing better than at any time in history.

As technology’s prowess has moved into the land of audiology, today’s hearing aid market has become flush with styles and technologies that solve and improve your hearing woes in remarkably specific ways; however, you’ll also find the selection of hearing aid styles may well make your head swim. With so many good options on the market, how are you to choose which hearing aid is right for you?

One reason there are so many hearing aids available is the reality that not all hearing loss or hearing loss sufferers are alike. Some hearing loss is accompanied by tinnitus. Some is mild and relegated to only a small spectrum of frequencies, and the people suffering hearing loss vary a great deal, too. Vastly different budgets can determine the range of some people’s options, and your budget will likely come into play, too.

The cause of your hearing loss can also affect the type of hearing aid you might choose. Visit HearingLife if you’re about to embark on a quest for the perfect hearing aid, and keep in mind these five tips for choosing the one that is right for you.

The Severity of Hearing Loss

The severity of your hearing loss will determine some of your options. Some models, like in-the-ear models (ITE), can work well whether your hearing loss is mild or severe. While other styles, like in-the-canal (ITC) and completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids, work best if your hearing loss is only mild to moderate. Your audiologist is your best resource when considering what aid will best suit the degree of hearing loss you suffer, so be sure to ask plenty of questions.

The Type of Hearing Loss

Some hearing loss is only in one ear. Some hearing loss affects lower frequencies to a much greater degree than higher ones. Many people’s hearing loss is accompanied by tinnitus and may require a masking sound in order to give you the best results. The type of hearing loss you suffer will affect which options are right for you.

Some digital models offer more dexterity of programming regarding frequency amplification and sound direction, which may be of great use to some people. However, analog models without that capacity may work completely fine for someone whose hearing loss doesn’t require carefully controlling frequencies.

Lifestyle Concerns

elderly-woman-in-orange-checkin-hearing-aid-blonde-woman-short-hairYour lifestyle will also dictate a lot about the type of hearing aid that will suit you best. If you’re someone who is very active and tends to perspire a lot, you’ll need a hearing aid that is water resistant. While if you’re someone who rarely works up a sweat, you probably won’t need that kind of feature. People with pools or ocean-side houses, who spend a lot of time in the water, may need to get a hearing aid that’s waterproof.

Whatever your lifestyle concerns and needs are, share them with your audiologist so you can be sure to get a hearing aid that won’t slow you down.

Price

Hearing aids, like most things in life, can run the gamut when it comes to price, and because insurance doesn’t always cover the treatment, you need to consider the cost when you’re making a selection. Talk to your audiologist about your budget needs.

Oftentimes, you’ll find the company you’re working for can work out a payment plan with you to ensure you get the type of hearing aid you need.

Comfort Level

How a hearing aid feels is a very important consideration that shouldn’t be overlooked when trying to make the right choice, but comfort is much more than how a hearing aid sits in or behind the ear. For a hearing aid to be truly comfortable, it must work toward the wearer’s comfort in a variety of ways, including:

  • Is the wearer comfortable with how the visible hearing aid is?
  • Is the wearer comfortable with how the hearing aid feels in or against his ear?
  • Is the wearer comfortable with how the hearing aid performs in a variety of settings?
  • Is the wearer comfortable with the features and adjustability that do or don’t come with the hearing aid?

Choosing the right hearing aid isn’t rocket science, but it does take careful deliberation. By considering your needs along with the help of a skilled audiologist, you can get the hearing aid that suits you, your budget and your lifestyle perfectly.

Justin Bieber and Orlando Bloom feud in Ibiza

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Justin Bieber and Orlando Bloom feud in Ibiza

After Justin Bieber and Orlando Bloom nearly came to blows at Ibiza hotspot Cipriani on July 30, the singer took to his Instagram to taunt the actor with a very telling photo.

The photo was of Orlando Bloom, 37, appearing to cry at the opening night of Romeo & Juliet in September 2013.

Justin Bieber took to his Instagram to taunt Orlando Bloom after Ibiza incident
Justin Bieber took to his Instagram to taunt Orlando Bloom after Ibiza incident (photo Instagram)

Justin Bieber, 20, left it without a caption, but his message was pretty clear.

Earlier in the day, following the alleged altercation, Justin Bieber posted an image of Orlando Bloom’s ex, Miranda Kerr, in a bikini, only to delete it a short time later.

According to Us Weekly, the incident in Ibiza started when Justin Bieber made a comment about Miranda Kerr to Orlando Bloom.

[youtube bGdJiS4Y5hY 650]

Commonwealth Games 2014: Kylie Minogue to perform at Glasgow closing ceremony

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Commonwealth Games 2014: Kylie Minogue to perform at Glasgow closing ceremony

Kylie Minogue will perform at the closing ceremony of this year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

The Hampden finale will begin at 21.00 on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the end of track and field events.

Kylie Minogue will perform alongside Lulu, Deacon Blue and Dougie MacLean.

Kylie Minogue will perform at the closing ceremony of this year's Glasgow Commonwealth Games
Kylie Minogue will perform at the closing ceremony of this year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games (photo Getty Images)

More than 2,000 volunteer performers will also take part in the ceremony, organizers confirmed.

They promised to bring the curtain down on an “amazing games” with “a night out not to be missed”.

Hampden Stadium will be transformed with more than 160 tonnes of staging, 3,000 props and 454 flags.

About 40,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony.

Kylie Minogue’s performance will represent the Games’ transfer to her native Australia in 2018.

The opening ceremony – featuring Tartan-clad performers, oversized Tunnock’s tea cakes, a giant kilt and Scottie dogs – was widely praised for its energy and humor.

Sydney: Robin Gibb’s last song to be released in September

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Sydney: Robin Gibb’s last song to be released in September

Robin Gibb’s final song is to be released in September.

Sydney, which was produced by the late Bee Gees star in May 2012, will be the final track on a new album compiled by his wife and son.

The album will be called 50 St Catherine’s Drive, the address where Robin Gibb was born on the Isle of Man.

Dwina Gibb said the poignant last composition made her weep when she first listened to it.

“He cried when he wrote it,” she added.

“This fragment of song is poignant, wistful, beautiful and unfinished.”

Dwina Gibb said her husband wrote the song late at night and used keyboards in their bedroom and some iPad software.

He had intended to produce the track fully in the studio with his brother Barry, but ill health prevented him from completing the task.

Robin Gibb’s final song is to be released in September
Robin Gibb’s final song is to be released in September (photo Getty Images)

“He missed his twin brother Maurice who had passed away, but when he closed his eyes, the three young brothers were back in Sydney, Australia, happy together with their dreams and hopes for the future. Their future creations of course affected the world,” said Dwina Gibb.

Dwina Gibb has put together the 17-track album including song-by-song notes, which is due for release on September 29.

Robin and Dwina Gibb’ son, RJ, co-wrote three of the tracks with Robin Gibb.

Several of the songs are autobiographical in nature and were mainly written between 2006 and 2008, but never released.

Robin Gibb died at the age of 62 following a series of health problems.

He cancelled a series of shows in Brazil in April 2011, after suffering from abdominal pains.

Later that year, he was found to have cancer of the colon after having surgery on his bowel for an unrelated condition.

Robin Gibb was later also diagnosed with cancer of the liver, and underwent chemotherapy and surgery.

Shortly before his death, Robin Gibb fell into a coma after contracting pneumonia.

Along with his brothers, Barry and Maurice, Robin Gibb was one third of the Bee Gees, who produced a series of worldwide hits including Tragedy, Jive Talkin’ and You Win Again.

[youtube qZLUfunJw6M 650]

Meceo McEaddy: Fake Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and Rihanna concert promoter sentenced to prison

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Meceo McEaddy: Fake Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and Rihanna concert promoter sentenced to prison

Meceo McEaddy has been sentenced to between 5 and 10 years in prison for stealing millions of dollars from concert promoters and party planners by posing as a booking agent.

The 39-year-old New Yorker, who pretended to be in charge of Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and several other celebrities, pleaded guilty to 21 counts of grand larceny and fraud, among other charges, according to Manhattan district attorney’s office.

Meceo McEaddy pretended to be in charge of Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and several other celebrities
Meceo McEaddy pretended to be in charge of Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and several other celebrities (photo Getty Images)

The scam involved Meceo McEaddy and 48-year-old Sylvester Vincent Carroll, of New Jersey, promising event producers a performance by a major recording artist, pocketing large deposits and not delivering a show after being paid.

Sylvester Vincent Carroll, who also pleaded guilty, was sentenced this month to three to nine years in prison.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said the two stole around $3.7 million from party planners around the world.

The scheme started in 2010 when the duo took $825,000 from a Brazilian company that believed it had booked Rihanna for concerts in Rio de Janeiro.

[youtube ZDLcScqwwbY 650]

Argentina default 2014: US mediator accused of incompetency

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Argentina default 2014: US mediator accused of incompetency

Argentina is blaming the US for its debt default, calling the mediator in failed talks “incompetent”.

Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich said Argentina was considering opening proceedings at international tribunals in The Hague after it was declared to be in technical default.

The announcement came just hours after last-minute talks in New York with a group of bond-holders failed.

The bond-holders are demanding a full pay-out of $1.3 billion.

Argentina says the bond-holders are “vultures” using the South American country’s debt problems to make a big profit.

The investors are US hedge funds that bought debt cheaply after Argentina’s economic crisis in 2001-2002.

Argentina is blaming the US for its debt default
Argentina is blaming the US for its debt default

They are also known as “hold-outs” because they did not sign up to a restructuring of debt which the majority of bond-holders agreed to in 2005 and 2010.

Under that deal, investors agreed to settle for about one-third of what they were originally owed.

However, hedge funds NML and Aurelius Capital Management bought up a large chunk of the remaining distressed debt at low prices.

They demand to be paid the full face value of their holding.

Jorge Capitanich said Argentina would denounce the “vulture funds” before the International Court of Justice at The Hague and the UN General Assembly.

He said the US was to blame for its “shameful” handling of the funds’ case against Argentina.

“The responsibility lies with a state, that of the United States of America,” he said in a news conference at the presidential palace.

Jorge Capitanich accused the US of “not acting in an adequate manner”.

The Argentine government had expected the dispute to go all the way to the US Supreme Court, which would have bought the country more time.

In June, the Supreme Court declined to hear Argentina’s appeal against the decision of a lower court that made it liable for the money.

Under that court’s ruling, Argentina cannot use the US financial system to keep paying the restructured bondholders unless it also pays the “vulture funds”, placing it in technical default.

However, Jorge Capitanich denied the country was in default at all, arguing that it has the money to pay the interest that became due to the restructured bondholders on June 30 but that it was barred from doing so by the court’s ruling.

He suggested that holders of its performing debt demand their money from the US judge who blocked the June 30 interest payment.

Jorge Capitanich also suggested one way out of the impasse would be for a third party to buy out the hold-out investors.

He said that move would allow them to side-step a clause that was seen as a major stumbling block on the way to a deal.

The clause, known as RUFO (rights on future offers) states that Argentina cannot favor the hold-outs over those who accepted the restructuring deals.

Jorge Capitanich also said that in the meantime Argentina would maintain its policies to stimulate the economy.

[youtube Y1tTESD3z-U 650]

Malaysia Airlines crash: International forensic scientists reach plane crash site

Roy Siemens
-
0
Malaysia Airlines crash: International forensic scientists reach plane crash site

International forensic scientists have reached the crash site of Malaysia Airlines plane in east Ukraine after the government halted military operations.

Australian and Dutch police experts arrived in a convoy of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) monitors.

Fighting between government and rebel forces had prevented them getting there for nearly a week.

Australia believes that around 80 bodies remain at the crash site.

Explosions were reportedly heard near the site after their arrival.

A journalist for AFP news agency heard several “powerful” blasts and saw a plume of smoke less than 6 miles from the crash site.

Russian aviation experts are also in Ukraine, hoping to visit the site.

The Malaysia Airlines plane crashed on 17 July in eastern Ukraine, with the deaths of all 298 people on board.

The rebels deny that they shot it down with a missile by mistake.

Officials in Russia, which has been accused by the US and others of supplying the rebels with advanced weaponry, suggest that Ukraine’s own armed forces downed the jet – a charge rejected by Kiev.

International forensic scientists have reached the crash site of Malaysia Airlines plane in east Ukraine after the government halted military operations
International forensic scientists have reached the crash site of Malaysia Airlines plane in east Ukraine after the government halted military operations

Russia has come under increased pressure to end its support for the rebels despite having continually denied claims that it is arming and training them.

OSCE monitors on the ground said in a tweet that they had reached the crash site with the Dutch and Australian investigators after using a new access route.

Getting out of their cars, they stopped for a minute’s silence in remembrance of those killed almost two weeks ago to the hour.

The Dutch justice ministry told AFP the Dutch-Australian team was so far only a “reconnaissance” mission but would hopefully pave the way for more experts to visit soon.

The Netherlands lost 193 of its citizens in the crash while Australia lost 27 and Malaysia 43.

Speaking on a visit to Kiev, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she had been told that 80 bodies could still be at the crash site.

“We are determined to access the site, so that we can collect the remains with some dignity and return them to the Netherlands where they can be identified,” she said.

“And then the grieving families across the world who lost 298 people can have some closure.”

Malaysian PM Najib Razak said on a visit to the Netherlands that a team of 68 Malaysian police officers had arrived in Kiev to help with the investigation.

Speaking at a news conference, Najib Razak and his Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte, said they were united in mourning.

Mark Rutte outlined their three shared priorities: to repatriate the rest of the passengers’ remains from Ukraine, to establish the cause of the crash and to bring those responsible to justice.

The crash area appears to be still under the control of rebel fighters, an AP news agency journalist at the scene said.

A Russian delegation led by Oleg Storchevoy, deputy head of Russia’s federal air transport agency Rosaviatsia, arrived in Kiev earlier.

“Russian experts intend to meet the head of the investigative commission… and hand over all the materials that the chairman of the commission had previously asked for,” Rosaviatsia said in a statement.

“Today, the Russian representatives will also try to reach the crash area of the Boeing 777 and together with specialists from the international investigative commission examine the state of parts of the aircraft at the site.”

There was no comment on the Russians’ involvement from Ukrainian and Dutch officials approached by AP.

The press service for Ukraine’s “anti-terrorist operation” said troops would refrain from combat operations in the Donetsk region, except in self-defense, in order to allow investigators to do their work on Thursday.

[youtube SZ1C7N0YJZA 650]

US imposes travel restrictions on Venezuela officials

Diane A. Wade
-
0
US imposes travel restrictions on Venezuela officials

The US government is imposing travel restrictions on a number of Venezuelan officials.

Officials did not specify how many people would be affected, but said those “who have been responsible for or complicit in human rights abuses” would not be “welcome” in the US.

The Venezuelan opposition has been lobbying for sanctions since thousands of protesters were detained during anti-government protests.

At least 43 people were killed in the protests.

The victims were from both sides of the political divide.

The US government is imposing travel restrictions on a number of Venezuelan officials
The US government is imposing travel restrictions on a number of Venezuelan officials

Relations between the US and Venezuela took a turn for the worse on Sunday when the former head of Venezuelan military intelligence, Gen Hugo Carvajal, was released from custody in the Caribbean and given a hero’s welcome in Caracas.

Gen. Hugo Carvajal had been detained on the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba over US accusations of drug-trafficking activities.

The US Treasury said he had been protecting drug shipments by Colombian FARC rebels.

He was released after Venezuela claimed he had diplomatic immunity because he had been appointed as Venezuela’s consul in Aruba.

The US said his release was “deeply disappointing” and accused Venezuela of threatening Aruba and the Netherlands into freeing Gen Carvajal.

In a statement released on Wednesday, US state department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the travel restrictions were in response to “arbitrary detentions and excessive use of force” by Venezuelan officials as they tried to contain growing anti-government protest.

Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets in February and March in protest at skyrocketing inflation, high crime rates and shortages of some basic staples.

Key opposition figures behind the protests were arrested and have been charged with inciting violence.

Thousands of protesters were detained, many of them have since been released but there have been allegations they were intimidated, beaten and even tortured.

The Venezuelan government says it is investigating dozens of members of the security forces in connection with the allegations.

The demonstrations have since become smaller and less frequent but tensions in the deeply divided country remain high.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has accused the opposition of trying to launch a coup against his government at the behest of “the imperialist US force”.

1...539540541...1,247Page 540 of 1,247