President Barack Obama met Ukraine President-elect Petro Poroshenko, and pledged support for plans to restore peace to the country.
Both presidents are in Warsaw to mark 25 years since the fall of communism in Poland.
Barack Obama called Petro Poroshenko a “wise selection” to lead Ukraine, and said the nation could become a vibrant, thriving democracy if the world community stood behind it.
President Barack Obama met Ukraine President-elect Petro Poroshenko, and pledged support for plans to restore peace to the country
Petro Poroshenko, a billionaire sweet manufacturer, was elected in May and will be inaugurated as Ukraine’s president on Saturday.
Barack Obama pledged $5 million of military assistance to Kiev including body armor and night-vision goggles.
The aid follows $18 million promised since early March for food, clothes, radios and other equipment.
Barack Obama has now arrived in Brussels for a meeting of the G7 major industrial nations, the first since Russia was removed from the G8 in protest over its annexation of Crimea in March.
He is expected to attend the 70th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings in Normandy on Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be at the ceremony but the two leaders have no meeting scheduled.
Venice Mayor Giorgio Orsoni is among 35 people arrested in Italy over alleged corruption in connection with new flood barriers built to protect the city.
Giorgio Orsoni and dozens of officials and businessmen are being held over claims of bribery during the public tender process of the Moses project.
Seventy-eight mobile barriers will be used to shut off Venice lagoon in the event of rising sea levels and storms.
Venice is continuing to sink and is hit by flooding on a yearly basis.
Construction of the barriers began 11 years ago but has been hampered by delays in funding due to Italy’s economic crisis.
Mayor Giorgio Orsoni and dozens of officials and businessmen are being held over claims of bribery during the public tender process of the Moses project in Venice
Once finished, the floodgates will extend more than a mile, blocking the three inlets to the lagoon.
Investigators are looking into allegations that 20 million euros ($27 million) in public funds was sent to foreign bank accounts and used to finance political parties, according to reports.
Giorgio Orsoni, 67, has been placed under house arrest while he is investigated for corruption, extortion and money laundering, Italy’s Ansa news agency reports.
His lawyers say the allegations against him are “hardly credible”, according to AFP news agency.
Prosecutors have also requested the arrest of a former governor of the Venice region, Giancarlo Galan, an ally of former PM Silvio Berlusconi.
Giancarlo Galan, who is currently protected by parliamentary immunity, launched the so-called Moses project – or The Experimental Electromechanical Module (MOSE) – in 2003 with Silvio Berlusconi.
Among those detained on Wednesday as part of the three year-long corruption inquiry are the regional head of the ruling Democratic Party, Giampiero Marquis, regional councillor for infrastructure Renato Chisso, and the president of a co-operative involved in the long-running project, reports say.
Some 100 other people are also said to be under investigation.
The operation comes after the arrest of Giovanni Mazacurati, the former head of the consortium building the barriers, over alleged contract rigging last year.
The massive Moses scheme has reportedly cost some 5.4 billion euros ($7.4 billion) and was due for completion this year but has been repeatedly hit by delays.
Some Venetians argue the project is a waste of money and there is no guarantee it will work.
In 1966, some 5,000 people were left homeless when flood levels in the city reached 6ft, causing immense damage.
A video showing the moment Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was handed over to US forces after five years in captivity in Afghanistan has been released by the Taliban.
The footage shows Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl sitting in a pick-up truck, before being walked to a helicopter in Khost province.
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was freed on Saturday in exchange for the release of five Guantanamo Bay detainees.
The deal has caused controversy in the US, with Republicans warning it could put American lives at risk.
The Taliban video shows the moment Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was handed over to US forces
The US army has said it would review the circumstances surrounding Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s capture in 2009.
General Martin Dempsey, also raised the possibility that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl could be prosecuted if he had abandoned his post before his seizure.
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, from Hailey, Idaho, is in a stable condition in a military hospital in Germany.
The video, released on Wednesday, shows Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl dressed in traditional Afghan clothing as he sits waiting in the truck.
Several armed men with covered faces are seen standing next to the vehicle and on the hillside.
A Black Hawk helicopter then lands and the Taliban fighters – one of whom carries a stick with a white flag – lead Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl to a meeting point where he is being taken away by US forces.
The exchange took place in Ali Sher district of Khost province near the Pakistan border.
The circumstances of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s capture remain unclear, with speculation he may have walked away from his base out of disillusionment with the US campaign.
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s parents – who have relentlessly campaigned for his release – earlier confirmed they still had not spoken to their son.
A man has been arrested after V. Stiviano – the girlfriend of embattled LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling – was allegedly attacked by two men outside a Manhattan hotel Sunday.
Dominic Diorio, 40, of Old Bethpage, is charged with third-degree hate crime and aggravated harassment, according to the NYPD. He’s scheduled to be arraigned later Tuesday or early Wednesday.
It wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney. Police haven’t indicated whether they’ve identified another suspect in the attack.
V. Stiviano claims she was attacked by two white men in New York City
V. Stiviano’s lawyer Mac Nehorary told NBC News Monday that she was leaving a restaurant near the Gansevoort Hotel in the Meatpacking District when two men approached her and “punched her on the right side of her face several times.”
According to RadarOnline, V. Stiviano, who has described herself as black and Mexican, was attacked by two white men who hit her and yelled racial slurs at her.
Last month, V. Stiviano was also the target of an apparent burglary attempt.
V. Stiviano gained notoriety after a recorded conversation between her and Donald Sterling was posted online by TMZ Sports in which Sterling can be heard criticizing Stiviano about bringing black friends to Clippers games.
Rihanna’s Rogue perfume poster will be restricted to areas where children are unlikely to see it, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled.
The image shows Rihanna sitting on the floor with her legs raised against a bottle of Rogue scent.
Rihanna presented Rogue, her fourth fragrance for women, in September 2013
Rihanna presented Rogue, her fourth fragrance for women, in September 2013.
The fragrance was announced as sensual oriental, containing accords of lemon blossom, cyclamen, jasmine, rose, plum and suede over a base of musk, woods, patchouli, vanilla and amber.
Mario Sorrenti photographed the advertising campaign.
Rogue fragrance is available as Eau de Parfum in three sizes (the largest one is 125 ml).
Dan and Jackie Anderson were posing for pictures with their groomsmen and bridesmaids on their wedding day when the jetty they were standing on collapsed.
While two lucky bridesmaids escaped, the rest of the party got soaked – an hour before the wedding.
Dan and Jackie Anderson were posing for pictures with their groomsmen and bridesmaids on their wedding day when the jetty they were standing on collapsed (photo Megan Fritze)
Videographer Megan Fritze caught it all on tape.
Dan is from Eagan, Minnesota, and Jackie is from Wadena, Minnesota. They met through mutual friends that happened to both be standing on the dock.
As guests arrived for the ceremony in Crosslake, Minnesota, Dan and Jackie Anderson were still drying off, but the wedding went ahead as planned.
Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has been declared the winner of last week’s presidential election in Egypt.
The former army chief said he wanted “freedom” and “social justice”, echoing the slogan of the 2011 revolution.
Abdul Fattah al-Sisi spoke after election officials announced that he had received 96.9% of the vote and his sole challenger, left-winger Hamdeen Sabahi, only 3.1%.
The retired field marshal overthrew President Mohamed Morsi last July.
He has since been locked in a battle with Mohamed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, which urged a boycott of what it called “the election of blood”.
Liberal and secular activists, including the April 6 youth movement which was prominent in the 2011 revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak, also shunned the poll in protest at the curtailing of civil rights.
Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has been declared the winner of last week’s presidential election in Egypt (photo Reuters)
Some journalists and government officials burst into applause and started dancing after the final results of the election were announced at a news conference in Cairo on Tuesday.
Thousands of Abdul Fattah al-Sisi supporters also celebrated in the capital’s famous Tahrir Square, cheering, singing songs and setting off fireworks.
In a speech broadcast later on state television, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi thanked voters and said he hoped to “be up to your trust”.
He said it was now “time to work”, adding: “Our co-operation in work and construction will lead to prosperity and luxury.”
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, a close ally, declared in a letter published by the Saudi state news agency that it was a “historic day” after a “period of chaos”. He also said he would organize a donor conference to help Egypt “get out of the tunnel” and “overcome its economic crisis”.
The Saudis, along with the UAE and Kuwait, have already promised the military-backed interim government almost $12 billion in financial assistance since Mohamed Morsi was ousted.
The official turnout was 47.45%, far lower than Abdul Fattah al-Sisi had hoped for as an endorsement and only achieved after an additional third day of voting.
Before the election, he declared that he wanted 40 million, or 74%, to cast their ballots to show that there was “consensus on a national level”.
He now faces a wide array of challenges, including fixing the economy, easing poverty and preventing further political crises.
Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has also promised to restore security in a country where attacks by Islamist militants have left hundreds of security personnel dead over the past 11 months.
The American carmakers reported strong sales figures for May 2014.
Chrysler said sales were up 17%, driven by its Jeep brand which saw sales jump 58% after it introduced new models.
GM reported a 12.6% rise in sales compared with the same period last year.
Ford posted a better-than-expected 3% increase in sales, helped by increasing demand for sports utility vehicles (SUVs) as well as its Fusion sedan.
The carmaker saw its truck sales drop 4% as it cut back on incentives in preparation for the launch of its new F-150 pick-up truck, which is the best-selling vehicle in North America.
The American carmakers reported strong sales figures for May 2014
Ford also said it was shutting down some truck plants for a total of 13 weeks in an effort to plan for the launch and manage inventory of the new truck, which features a lighter body for better fuel mileage.
May is traditionally a strong month for car sales in the US.
This May in particular was helped by an extra weekend, which saw particularly strong sales.
GM shares rose more than 3% on the news, before falling later in the day.
The company appears not to be suffering from a mishandled recall, which resulted in a $35 million fine for the company last month.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Board (NHTSA) said it was the single highest civil penalty ever levied as a result of a recall investigation.
Foreign car makers also saw strong US sales, with Japanese car makers Toyota and Nissan reporting double-digit sales increases.
Of the major car manufacturers, only Volkswagen saw its sales fall.
Demand for Volkswagen vehicles slumped 15%, partially as a result of a pause before the launch of a new Golf compact car.
David Siegel’s Westgate Resorts announced last month that it has added 1,500 new positions in 2014.
According to a news release, 775 new positions were added in Central Florida.
David Siegel’s Westgate Resorts announced last month that it has added 1,500 new positions in 2014
A spokesman for the timeshare resort company, Frank Blanco, said the hiring represents actual growth in the full-time and part-time workforce and not just seasonal hiring. Frank Blanco said almost half the new positions, 673, are in sales and are based on commission.
“Our total employment currently stands at 8,236. Last year at this time, it was less than 7,000,” he said.
Among the new positions are 150 employees Westgate Resorts took on when it purchased the Cocoa Beach Pier recently, according to the news release.
David Siegel said in the release that Westgate Resorts was in the “best financial position it has ever been in its 44-year existence”.
Wolfgang Bosbach, a political ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, phoned her during a celebrity version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, hoping she could answer a question – but in vain.
Twice Wolfgang Bosbach called during RTL’s show, but all he got was the chancellor’s voicemail.
Thwarted by Angela Merkel’s silence he bowed out, winning 125,000 euros. The question was about an East German washing machine.
Wolfgang Bosbach phoned Angela Merkel during a celebrity version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
Angela Merkel grew up in the former communist East Germany.
Wolfgang Bosbach, a member of Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), was asked why the East German WM66 washing machine was legendary.
The correct answer was that many owners also used it to stew fruit.
When asked if he wanted to phone a friend, Wolfgang Bosbach suggested the chancellor, explaining that “she’s always happy to see me and hear my voice”.
A correct answer from Angela Merkel would have won him 500,000 euros to spend on good causes.
At the end of the show he received a text back from Angela Merkel saying: “Ok whatever it was, warm greetings from am.”
Wolfgang Bosbach is currently deputy chairman of Angela Merkel’s CDU/CSU parliamentary group. He is a specialist in German domestic policy and legal affairs. He joined the CDU in 1972.
Saudi Arabia has confirmed that 282 people have been killed by the MERS virus, almost 100 more than initially thought.
The increase came after a national review of hospital data from the time the virus emerged in 2012.
The deputy health minister, who has been criticized for his handling of the crisis, was sacked on Monday.
Cases of the virus, for which there is no known cure, have been confirmed in almost a dozen other countries.
Saudi Arabia has confirmed that 282 people have been killed by the MERS virus, almost 100 more than initially thought
Saudi authorities said there had now been 688 confirmed MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) infections in the kingdom. Before the revision the number of cases was believed to be 575.
Health ministry spokesman Tariq Madani said that despite the revised figures, fewer people were now contracting the disease.
“Though the review showed confirmed cases that needed to be added, we are still witnessing a decline in the number of newly registered cases in the past few weeks” he said.
Of those infected, the country’s health ministry said, 53 were still receiving treatment.
Saudi Arabia has registered the largest number of infections of MERS.
MERS virus is from the same family as the common cold, but can lead to kidney failure and pneumonia.
Cases have also been confirmed in Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy, Tunisia, Egypt, the UK and, most recently, the US.
Camels are suspected to be the main source of infection for humans. Saudi authorities have urged citizens to wear protective masks when dealing with the animals.
In April Saudi’s King Abdullah sacked the health minister as the death toll climbed.
Six people, including two teens, were shot and another person was injured at a laundromat on Chicago’s South Side on Monday evening.
The shooting took place around 8:05 p.m. local time, said Chicago Police Department spokesman Ron Gaines.
Six people, including two teens, were shot and another person was injured at a laundromat on Chicago’s South Side
There were no arrests and police were still working to determine the cause of the shooting, Ron Gaines said. A fire department official had earlier said seven people were shot.
Three of the injured were transported to area hospitals in serious to critical condition, including a 14-year old victim, said Larry Langford, a spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department.
None of the injuries were life-threatening, Ron Gaines said.
Victims were aged 14 to 52 and two were women, Ron Gaines said. Another victim was 16-years-old, according to the police spokesman.
Rescue workers found many of the victims still lying on the floor of the coin-machine laundromat, its windows shattered in the attack, Larry Langford said.
Oliver Stone will write and direct the story of Edward Snowden, the fugitive US intelligence leaker.
The movie will be based on the book by Guardian journalist Luke Harding, The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World’s Most Wanted Man.
Luke Harding’s book is an account of events surrounding the Guardian‘s reporting of Edward Snowden’s disclosures last year.
Oliver Stone said: “This is one of the greatest stories of our time.”
He added that making the film would be “a real challenge”.
Oliver Stone will write and direct the story of Edward Snowden
Oliver Stone is one of Hollywood’s most controversial and provocative film-makers, renowned for political dramas such as JFK, Platoon and W – a biographical drama based on the life of former US President George W. Bush.
Filming is due to start before the end of the year. Like Harding and other Guardian journalists will be production and story consultants on the project.
Guardian Editor-in-chief, Alan Rusbridger, said: “The story of Edward Snowden is truly extraordinary, and the unprecedented revelations he brought to light have forever transformed our understanding of, and relationship with, government and technology. We’re delighted to be working with Oliver Stone and Moritz Borman on the film.”
The Snowden scandal broke in early June 2013 when the Guardian newspaper reported that the NSA was collecting the telephone records of tens of millions of Americans.
Shortly afterwards, the Guardian revealed that ex-CIA systems analyst Edward Snowden was behind the leaks about the US and UK surveillance programs.
Edward Snowden has been charged in the US with theft of government property, unauthorized communication of national defense information and willful communication of classified communications intelligence.
HE fled to Russia via Hong Kong following the revelations last year.
Edward Stone described Snowden as a “hero” in August last year.
Speaking at a news conference in Tokyo, the film-maker said: “Edward Snowden is a hero. Because he did this not for profit, not to give, exchange, give secrets away that could hurt our country supposedly… He is doing it out of conscience.”
Oliver Stone came to prominence as a film-maker in the 1980s with films like Salvador, Platoon and Wall Street. He won Oscars for directing Platoon and Born on the Fourth of July, and for writing 1978’s Midnight Express.
The National Cancer Institute has launched a new program called the Dietary Patterns Methods Project.
The project’s goal is to establish links between various diets (rather than individual nutrients) and mortality rates in three large US population databases. Many government and special interest groups now conduct these studies because of their concern about the health of our society. People do not eat as healthy as they should and it is lowering the life expectancy all over the country. As a result, getting involved in the nutrition education industry is an outstanding career choice, as those who following through with this degree can apply for jobs with government agencies and nonprofit organizations that wish to make a change. Overall, the need for nutritionists and dietitians is expected to increase by 20 percent in the coming years, making it a good choice for those looking to start a new career.
The first paper from the project has just been published in the Journal of Nutrition. It followed 424,000 subjects for 15 years. Subjects had an average age of 62 at the study’s beginning, with 86,000 dying during the 15-year period. Death rates were then correlated with four well-defined dietary patterns selected by the investigators.
All four diets followed a similar pattern, recommending consumption of whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and plant proteins. And all four proved more or less equally effective for decreasing cardiovascular, cancer, and all-cause mortality rates by 12 to 28% when compared to less-healthy diets.
The National Cancer Institute has launched the Dietary Patterns Methods Project to establish links between various diets and mortality rates in three large US population database
“All four diet quality indexes that we examined showed similar associations with mortality,” the research team notes.
The four diets were: the Healthy Eating Index 2010, the Alternative Healthy Eating Index 2010, the Alternate Mediterranean Diet, and the DASH Diet.
They differ slightly in the degree to which they favor, or disfavor, certain foods and food types, such as the following:
The Healthy Eating Index 2010: Considers low-fat dairy products a plus
The Alternative Healthy Eating Index 2010: Considers nuts/legumes a plus, as well as moderate alcohol consumption. Trans fats, sugary beverages, salt, and red meat get a minus
The Alternate Mediterranean Diet: Considers fish, nuts/legumes, and moderate alcohol a plus; red meat, a minus
The DASH Diet: Considers low-fat dairy and nuts/legumes a plus; sugary beverages, salt, and red meat get a minus
As an indication of how closely the four diets tracked each other, here are the mortality hazard ratios for men and women when comparing those who scored highest on each diet index vs. those who scored lowest. A lower ratio indicates a decreased mortality risk.
The authors believe that their study is the first to compare various diets within the same large US population databases. Previously, different diet definitions and different population databases made comparisons difficult to summarize.
In conclusion, it doesn’t matter much what name-brand diet you follow, so long as the diet emphasizes the basics: whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and plant proteins.
Sinead O’Connor shared a photo to announce the upcoming release of her next album, I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss, and her new look stunned fans.
In the picture, Sinead O’Connor dons a black wig, heavy make-up and a black dress, marking a huge change to her usual shaved head look and casual attire.
Sinead O’Connor announced the upcoming release of her next album, I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss (photo Facebook)
Sinead O’Connor reveals the album’s title was inspired by Ban Bossy, a viral campaign launched by Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg to encourage women to take charge in the workplace.
In a post on her website, Sinead O’Connor wrote: “Just a note to explain the title of my forthcoming album IS taken from Sheryl Sandberg’s Ban Bossy campaign. Originally I had a different title, <<The Vishnu Room>>, but a few months back when I saw the phrase <<I’m not bossy, I’m the boss>> and became aware of the Ban Bossy campaign, I wished I could re-name the album, since indeed it can be tricky being a female boss and I think Sheryl’s campaign is a terribly important one.”
Sinead O’Connor’s new album will be released in August.
Donald Sterling is being sued for harassment by a second alleged mistress, named Maiko Maya King.
According to TMZ, the woman claims the deposed LA Clippers owner subjected her to racist remarks during a six-year relationship.
Maiko Maya King says she was married with two kids when she met Donald Sterling and claims the billionaire said things like “Why would you bring black people into the world?” and “Black people do not take care of their children. All they do is sit home and smoke dope” during their relationship from 2005 to 2011.
The alleged mistress, who’s reportedly only half the 80-year-old Donald Sterling’s age, says he hired her as a “caretaker” after their relationship ended, but mainly “dangled money” for s**ual favors.
Donald Sterling is being sued for harassment by second alleged mistress Maiko Maya King
Maiko Maya King claims he fired her on May 7 after she protested his treatment. She’s since hired Gloria Allred.
“I don’t like the man. [Maiko Maya King] told me all the racist things he said, but he had billions and I was just a stunt man. He broke up my marriage,” Maiko Maya King’s ex-husband Wayne King, 49, told the New York Daily News.
“I went to two Clippers games, but the whole situation was just ugly,” he said.
“He tried to get my youngest daughter to give him kisses, and then he would turn his face to get it on the lips. I told him I didn’t like that, and he said, <<But I just love her>>.”
Maiko Maya King’s Twitter page describes her as an artist, the owner of a SoCal nightclub and the founder of The Circle of Charities and the Circle Arts Program.
Donald Sterling’s other alleged mistress, V. Stiviano, set off a national firestorm last month after recordings of him making racist comments to her surface. He was banned by the NBA for life, fined $2.5 million and forced to sell the Clippers, which his estranged wife Shelly successfully negotiated last week.
V. Stiviano most recently filed a police report after being attacked on the streets of New York.
According to TMZ, V. Stiviano claims two white males punched her in the face and called her “anti-black names”.
During his visit to Poland, President Barack Obama has unveiled plans for a $1billion fund to increase US military deployments to Europe.
Barack Obama, who will meet NATO leaders amid concerns over the Ukraine crisis, said the security of America’s European allies was “sacrosanct”.
In April, 150 US soldiers were sent to Poland for military exercises amid growing tensions with Russia.
Barack Obama will also visit Belgium and France during his tour.
Meanwhile, NATO defense ministers are set to meet in Brussels to discuss the long-term security implications of Russian actions over Ukraine.
The Kremlin denies Western claims that it is supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine.
During his visit to Poland, President Barack Obama has unveiled plans for a $1billion fund to increase US military deployments to Europe (photo Reuters)
“Our commitment to Poland’s security as well as the security of our allies in central and eastern Europe is a cornerstone of our own security and it is sacrosanct,” Barack Obama said after inspecting a joint unit of US and Polish F-16 pilots.
Speaking at a news conference in Warsaw with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski, Barack Obama warned Russia against provoking further tensions in Ukraine.
He said Moscow should use its influence to call off separatists in Ukraine’s east.
Barack Obama reaffirmed the US commitment to NATO’s principle of collective defense, announcing plans for a $1 billion European Reassurance Initiative.
The program, which will fund additional US military rotations to Europe, will need congressional approval.
The US would also “step up partnership” with countries such as Ukraine and Moldova, he added.
Bronislaw Komorowski said Poland would increase its military budget to 2% of its GDP, a move Barack Obama welcomed as a “reminder that every [NATO] ally needs to carry their share” in the alliance.
In a statement, the White House said the European Reassurance Initiative would not “come at the expense of other defense priorities, such as our commitment to the Asia Pacific rebalance”.
In France, Barack will take part in ceremonies to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is also invited, but the White House has already made it clear that the American and Russian leaders will not hold formal bilateral talks.
Washington and its European allies have repeatedly urged Moscow to de-escalate tensions in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has continued between separatists and government troops.
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl could be prosecuted if he abandoned his post before his capture, a top-ranking military has said.
General Martin Dempsey wrote Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, 28, “is innocent until proven guilty”.
But he said the Army would not dismiss “misconduct if it occurred”.
Meanwhile, President Barack Obama defended his decision to free five senior Taliban leaders to secure Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s release on Saturday after five years in Taliban captivity.
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl could be prosecuted if he abandoned his post before his capture (photo Wikipedia)
In Warsaw, Barack Obama said the US had a “pretty sacred rule” not to leave soldiers behind, arguing that the most important consideration was to bring home a young American held captive for five years.
“We don’t leave our men or women in uniform behind and that dates back to the earliest days,” Barack Obama said at a news conference.
“Regardless of the circumstances, whatever those circumstances may turn out to be, we still get an American soldier back if he’s held in captivity. Period. Full stop. We don’t condition that.”
Since Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s release on Saturday, a growing chorus of opposition Republicans have criticized the president’s decision to order the prisoner swap.
They have attacked the president for undertaking what they describe as negotiations with terrorists, and say the transfer of five Taliban senior prisoners from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Qatar, puts Americans at risk.
And some have accused the president of contravening a law requiring the White House to notify Congress 30 days in advance of any transfers of prisoners from Guantanamo.
In Poland, Barack Obama said his administration had consulted Congress “for some time” about the possibility of a prisoner exchange, though he acknowledged Congress was not briefed ahead of time on the operation.
“We saw an opportunity, we were concerned about Sgt Bergdahl’s health… and we seized that opportunity,” he said.
On his Facebook page, Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, wrote the operation was “likely the last, best opportunity to free him”.
“As for the circumstances of his capture, when he is able to provide them, we’ll learn the facts,” he wrote.
“Like any American, he is innocent until proven guilty. Our Army’s leaders will not look away from misconduct if it occurred. In the meantime, we will continue to care for him and his family.”
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl of Idaho is in stable condition in a military hospital in Germany.
He went missing from a remote base in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, in June 2009. After mounting an intensive effort to locate and rescue him, the Pentagon concluded Bowe Bergdahl had intentionally abandoned his post before his capture, US media have reported. Efforts to win his release moved from the field to the negotiating table.
Since Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s rescue, the reaction from Republicans has grown increasingly hostile.
Brad Pitt spoke out about his encounter with red-carpet prankster Vitalii Sediuk.
“I was at the end of the line signing autographs, when out the corner of my eye I saw someone stage-diving over the barrier at me,” Brad Pitt explained to People magazine.
Vitalii Sediuk accosted Brad Pitt at the world premiere of Maleficent in Hollywood
“I took a step back; this guy had latched onto my lapels. I looked down and the nutter was trying to bury his face in my c**ch, so I cracked him twice in the back of the head – not too hard – but enough to get his attention, because he did let go. I think he was then just grabbing for a hand hold because the guys were on him, and he reached up and caught my glasses.”
Vitalii Sediuk, 25, was wrestled away by security and quickly arrested. He spent two days in jail before pleading no contest to battery and unlawful activity at an entertainment event and received three years probation and one year of psychiatric counseling.
“I’m a normal guy,” he told The Associated Press, insisting that he merely wanted to hug Brad Pitt, not his swimsuit area, since children were present on the red carpet. “I’m not crazy.”
Brad Pitt clearly has his doubts: “If this guy keeps it up he’s going to spoil it for the fans who have waited up all night for an autograph or a selfie, because it will make people more wary to approach a crowd. And he should know, if he tries to look up a woman’s dress again, he’s going to get stomped.”
Macaulay Culkin’s band, The Pizza Underground, has cancelled the rest of their UK shows after they were booed offstage in two cities, Nottingham and Manchester.
The band, which performs pizza-themed covers of Velvet Underground tunes, was also pelted with beer by disgruntled fans, and now the band has axed the rest of its live shows.
Macaulay Culkin’s The Pizza Underground has cancelled the rest of their UK shows after they were booed offstage in Nottingham and Manchester
Announcing the cancellation, The Pizza Underground tweeted: “Sad that we had to cancel UK shows. Believe it or not we had fun! But all good things must end, and sometimes suddenly and w/o explanation.”
The Pizza Underground also pulled out of a performance at Spain’s Primavera Sound festival on Saturday, but insisted the cancellations “had nothing to do with the beer tossers” and claimed they had to “deal with a cheesemergency (sic)”.
Macaulay Culkin, who plays kazoo in The Pizza Underground, and his bandmates were forced offstage just 15 minutes into their set at the Rock City in Nottingham after fans began hurling abuse and beer at them.
Iowa-based Quality Egg LLC has agreed to pay $6.8 million in fines for selling old eggs with false labels and the tainted products that caused a nationwide salmonella outbreak in 2010, according to a plea agreement released on June 2.
Quality Egg, once one of the US’s largest egg producers, is expected to plead guilty Tuesday to charges of bribing a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspector to approve sales of poor quality eggs, selling misbranded eggs and introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce. The company’s owner, Austin “Jack” DeCoster, and its chief operating officer, Peter DeCoster, are expected to plead guilty to introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce, a misdemeanor.
They face sentences ranging from probation to one year in jail, according to plea agreements filed Monday by federal prosecutors. Jack DeCoster, 79, of Turner, Maine, and his 50-year-old son Peter, of Clarion, Iowa, have agreed to pay $100,000 fines each.
US District Judge Mark Bennett must approve the plea agreements and sentence the DeCosters who, along with Quality Egg, could also be ordered to pay restitution to victims. The agreements allow the DeCosters to appeal any jail terms.
Quality Egg LLC has agreed to pay $6.8 million in fines for selling old eggs with false labels and the tainted products that caused a nationwide salmonella outbreak in 2010
Bill Marler, an attorney who represents dozens of the salmonella victims, said the $6.8 million fine is the largest he’s heard of in 20 years of practicing food safety law. The fines and potential jail time send “a very strong message to companies that food safety is paramount,” he said.
The documents add new details to the unethical and unsafe business practices at Quality Egg, which operated a network of businesses in rural northern Iowa that produced more than 1 million eggs daily. The government blamed its tainted shell eggs for a 2010 salmonella outbreak that sickened thousands and led to the unprecedented recall of 550 million eggs. The DeCosters have since left the egg industry.
Investigators found no evidence that the DeCosters knew they were selling tainted products in 2010. But as corporate officers, they were in position to “detect, prevent and correct the sale of the contaminated eggs” had they known, the plea agreements say.
The investigation also found no evidence that the DeCosters knew that Quality Egg deliberately mislabeled eggs from 2006 to 2010 to fool regulators and consumers about their age to circumvent laws in California, Arizona and elsewhere that require eggs to be sold within a month or less of their processing dates.
In that scheme, company manager Tony Wasmund directed and approved a practice of putting false processing and expiration dates on eggs that had been in storage for several days or weeks to make them appear far fresher. In some cases, eggs were shipped without labels so that wholesalers could add inaccurate processing and expiration dates when they arrived. Many of the eggs had been in storage for 14 to 40 days or longer.
The practice allowed Quality Egg to avoid having to sell surplus eggs for half price to a breaker facility, where they are sanitized and turned into a liquid product. Instead, the “distressed eggs” were sold to wholesalers at a higher price. Only eggs that were moldy went to a breaker, Tony Wasmund told investigators. Investigators failed to identify anyone who was sickened by the practice.
Tony Wasmund and another employee also bribed a USDA inspector at least twice to approve pallets of shell eggs that did not meet minimum quality standards.
In particular, the pallets had too high a percentage of eggs that were cracked, leaking, dirty or inedible. The inspector, who has since died of natural causes, accepted a cash bribe of $300 in April 2010 and at least one more of an unspecified amount for releasing those eggs without reprocessing, the plea agreement says.
Tony Wasmund is expected to be sentenced in September on a charge of conspiracy to bribe a public official under a plea agreement in which he cooperated with prosecutors.
Seattle council has voted unanimously to raise the city’s minimum wage to the highest level of any major US city – $15 per hour, twice the national minimum.
Wages would begin to rise next year, ultimately reaching $15 from Washington state’s minimum of $9.32 over three to seven years, depending on the business.
A councilor who supported the push said the vote “sends a message heard around the world”.
US minimum wage is $7.25, although 38 states have set higher levels.
The states of California, Connecticut and Maryland have recently passed laws increasing their respective wages to $10 or more in coming years.
Seattle council has voted unanimously to raise the city’s minimum wage to $15
Nationally, President Barack Obama has called for a $10.10 federally-mandated minimum wage, which would require action by the divided Congress.
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray had run for election to the city’s top office on the issue, and the election of a socialist councilor also provided pressure.
The proposal came out of an advisory group of labor, business and non-profit representatives organized by Ed Murray.
Under the plan, companies with more than 500 employees nationally will be given at least three years to phase in the increase, those who provide health insurance subsidies would get four years and smaller businesses would be given seven years.
Some local businesses have come out in support of the measure, but a group of restaurant owners oppose it, saying it would force them to cut back on new recruits and service hours.
A lobbying group said shortly after the measure passed it would sue because the varied phase-in time was unfair.
“The suit will seek to overturn the unfair and discriminatory minimum wage plan that was approved by the City Council,” the International Franchise Association (IFA) said in a statement.
Last year, the nearby tiny town of SeaTac, which holds Seattle’s airport, passed a $15 minimum wage. As a result, some 6,300 workers at SeaTac’s airport, would be paid the highest minimum wage in the nation.
San Francisco was previously the highest hourly wage for a large US city at $10.74.
Spain’s cabinet will discuss today the next steps in the process of King Juan Carlos’s abdication and the accession of his son, Crown Prince Felipe.
King Juan Carlos announced on Monday his intention to abdicate after nearly 40 years on the throne.
Ministers will discuss the steps needed to approve Crown Prince Felipe’s accession to the throne.
King Juan Carlos was seen as popular for much of his reign, but recently many Spaniards have lost confidence in him.
PM Mariano Rajoy said the cabinet meeting would aim at carrying out the “constitutional measures” needed to clear the way for the succession.
King Juan Carlos announced on Monday his intention to abdicate after nearly 40 years on the throne (photo Spain’s Royal Palace)
The Spanish constitution does not have a precise law regulating abdication and royal succession, and ministers will discuss the special legislation that will be necessary for the process.
The two main parties in parliament remain loyal to the monarchy.
Prince Felipe will become King Felipe VI and will inherit an institution whose reputation has been tarnished by scandals in recent years.
King Juan Carlos, 76, said his son Prince Felipe would “open a new era of hope”
The king announced his decision on Monday in a televised address.
“A new generation must be at the forefront… younger people with new energies,” he said.
Prince Felipe will have to contend with the damage done to the standing of the monarchy by a long-running corruption investigation into the business dealings of his sister and her husband.
Support fell further when it was discovered King Juan Carlos had been on a lavish elephant hunting trip to Botswana in April 2012, in the middle of Spain’s financial crisis.
On Monday evening, thousands of protesters took to the squares of several Spanish towns and cities demanding a referendum on whether the monarchy should continue.
Juan Carlos took the throne in 1975, after the death of General Francisco Franco, the military dictator who had ruled for 36 years.
He became Spain’s first crowned head of state for 44 years.
But he soon ignored Franco’s supporters, who wanted an extension to autocratic rule, and ushered in a new system of parliamentary monarchy.
In later years King Juan Carlos became more of a figurehead.
He has been credited as a stabilizing force for independence-minded areas such as Catalonia and the Basque region.
Prince Felipe and his wife Princess Letizia – a former television presenter – have recently taken on more important roles in ceremonial events.
Syrians are voting in the country’s presidential elections amid heightened security.
The poll takes place three years into a civil war in which tens of thousands of people have died and millions more are displaced.
President Bashar al-Assad is widely expected to win a third seven-year term in office.
However, critics of the Syrian government have denounced the election as a sham.
Analysts say Syrian officials have gone to great lengths to present the vote as a way to resolve the crisis.
It is the first time in decades that more than one name has appeared on the ballot paper.
Hassan al-Nouri and Maher Hajjar are not widely known and have been unable to campaign on an equal footing with President Bashar al-Assad
Correspondents say the other two candidates – Maher Hajjar and Hassan al-Nouri – are not widely known and have been unable to campaign on an equal footing with President Bashar al-Assad.
Previous presidential terms have been called through a referendum with just one member of the Assad family on the ballot paper.
Campaigning officially ended on Monday and workers across central Damascus removed banners, posters and pictures of the candidates.
PM Wael al-Halqi said the election was a “historic day” for Syria and that a large turnout would “prove to the entire world that the Syrian people have decided and are determined to make the electoral process a success”.
He urged Syrians to elect a president who would “achieve security and stability in the country… and step up the achievement of national reconciliation”.
The interior ministry says there are 15.8 million eligible voters, both inside and outside Syria, and about 9,600 polling stations have been set up around the country.
However, voting will only take place in government-held territory, with many parts of the country either under rebel control or in areas being fought over.
Opposition fighters have warned they will try to disrupt the vote and the Syrian National Coalition – the main Western-backed opposition group – is boycotting it.
Coalition leader Ahmad al-Jarba described the election as “theatre written with the blood of Syrians”.
He accused President Bashar al-Assad of planning to bomb and shell polling stations in order to blame the opposition.
Polling stations opened at 07:00 local time and close 12 hours later, although officials said voting could be extended for five hours if there is a big turnout.
