Home Blog Page 573

Romania wins Art-football championship 2014

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Romania wins Art-football championship 2014

Romania has won this year’s Art-football championship held in Moscow, Russia, after defeating the Israeli team on penalties, 0:0 (4:3).

The international football and music festival Art-football which was invented and organized for the first time in Russia became one of the most remarkable world sports and music event in support of the ideas of Kindness and Humanity.

Art-football festival is held in the frame of the “Under the Flag of Kindness” campaign with the aim to raise funds guaranteeing treatment of seriously ill children.

Romania has won this year’s Art-football championship held in Moscow after defeating the Israeli team on penalties
Romania has won this year’s Art-football championship held in Moscow after defeating the Israeli team on penalties (photo art-football.ru)

The teams including film, TV and music celebrities from 16 countries, participated in football competition with a format similar to the FIFA championships.

The charity Campaign “Under a flag of Kindness!” organized similar matches in Sochi in 2007. The second championship was also held in the south of Russia – in the city of Novorossiisk on the Black Sea.

The list of the countries included: Britain, Brazil, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Poland, South Korea, Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Estonia and Japan.

Every team was allowed to have not more than two professional football players (football veterans) in their ranks. Other members were obliged to confirm that they belong to the artistic world.

The 16 teams were divided into 4 groups.

The music part of the Art-football festival was also part of the competition. Every night in Gorky Park the two teams who were free from the games that day presented national gala concerts, backed by performances of Guests of Honor — the world class pop stars.

Among the Guests of Honor performing in the Gorky Park as part of the Art-football festival were the legendary Uriah Heep, renowned Serbian film maker and musician Emir Kusturitsa and his No-Smoking Orchestra and Russian famous outstanding pianist and passionate football fan Denis Matsuev.
[youtube 4g7ltlE2euU 650]

Dow Jones and S&P 500 close at record levels

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Dow Jones and S&P 500 close at record levels

US shares closed at record levels, helped by strong data on the manufacturing sector.

The Dow Jones rose 26 points to close at 16,743, its second consecutive record close.

The broader S&P 500 added just a point, but that was enough to secure its third consecutive record session.

US factories remained busy in May, according to the manufacturing activity index compiled by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).

US shares closed at record levels, helped by strong data on the manufacturing sector
US shares closed at record levels, helped by strong data on the manufacturing sector (photo AP)

The ISM had to correct its original release which showed slowing activity, but had been calculated incorrectly.

“The market has lately been focused more on the weak economic news and the bond market, but we saw a reversal of that today with the revised [ISM] numbers,” said Rick Meckler, president of hedge fund LibertyView Capital Management in Jersey City, New Jersey.

“But it’s hard to move the market higher, considering we are fairly fully valued at this point,” he said.

The technology focused NASDAQ fell 10 points to close at 4,237.

Shares in Botox-maker Allergan soared 9% after Valeant Pharmaceuticals said it would go hostile with its bid for the company.

Activist investor, Bill Ackman, who is partnering with Valeant in the bid, said he would move to replace almost the entire board of Allergan.

Equipment maker Caterpillar was the biggest winner among the Dow Industrials, rising 1.5%.

Technology giant Intel also had a strong session, adding 1.1%.

On the NASDAQ, Broadcom shares rose over 10% after the company said it would look for a buyer for its division that makes chips used in mobile devices.

Nigeria missing girls: Abuja authorities ban support rallies

Roy Siemens
-
0
Nigeria missing girls: Abuja authorities ban support rallies

Nigerian authorities have banned public protests in the capital Abuja for the release of more than 200 schoolgirls seized by Islamist militants in April.

Abuja police commissioner Joseph Mbu said the rallies were “now posing a serious security threat”.

Nigeria has seen almost daily rallies calling for the government to take firmer action to rescue the girls.

Boko Haram militants snatched the girls from the remote Chibok village near the Cameroon border on April 14.

Nigerian authorities have banned public protests in the capital Abuja for the release of more than 200 schoolgirls seized by Islamist militants
Nigerian authorities have banned public protests in the capital Abuja for the release of more than 200 schoolgirls seized by Islamist militants (photo AP)

In a statement, Joseph Mbu said that public protests had “degenerated” and were now a security threat.

He was also quoted by the state-run Agency of Nigeria as saying that “dangerous elements” could join the demonstrations.

Nigeria’s government has been facing growing pressure both at home and abroad to do more to tackle the group and bring about the girls’ release.

A deal for the release of some of the abducted schoolgirls in Nigeria was close to being secured when the Nigerian government called it off late last month.

Some of the girls were set to be freed in exchange for imprisoned Islamist militants.

Thousands of people have died since Boko Haram began a violent campaign against the Nigerian government in 2009 and in the subsequent security crackdown.

The girls, who were mainly Christian, were taken from their school in Chibok, in north-eastern Borno state and are thought to be held in a remote forested area of the state, close to the border with Chad and Cameroon.

Bassem Youssef cancels al-Bernameg show

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Bassem Youssef cancels al-Bernameg show

Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef’s show, al-Bernameg (The Program), has come to an end, its creator has announced.

Bassem Youssef said he was “tired of struggling” and worried about the safety of his family.

Al-Bernameg show came under pressure after poking fun at Egypt’s military establishment.

The show has been sued dozens of times since it began in the wake of ex-President Hosni Mubarak’s downfall in 2011.

Bassem Youssef, a former heart surgeon, told a news conference on Monday that the channel that carried the show had been pressured to drop it.

“The present climate in Egypt is not suitable for a political satire program,” he added.

Bassem Youssef’s al-Bernameg show came under pressure after poking fun at Egypt's military establishment
Bassem Youssef’s al-Bernameg show came under pressure after poking fun at Egypt’s military establishment

Bassem Youssef denied that he was capitulating to pressure, saying: “Stopping the program sends a much stronger message than if it continued.”

At its height, al-Bernameg was watched by an estimated 8 million viewers inside Egypt and many millions more abroad.

The show began as a series of amateur YouTube clips filmed in Bassem Youssef’s Cairo flat in the days following Egypt’s 2011 revolution.

Inspired by Jon Stewart’s Daily Show, Bassem Youssef went on to develop al-Bernameg, a satirical show filmed in front of a studio audience.

Its success made Bassem Youssef a household name throughout the Arab world and he was named as one of the world’s top 100 most influential people by Time Magazine in 2013.

However, al-Bernameg ‘s sharp satire repeatedly angered the authorities, who tried to close it down.

Under the presidency of Muslim Brotherhood president Mohamed Morsi, Bassem Youssef faced charges of insulting Islam.

The charges were later thrown out of court, shortly after which Mohamed Morsi was too thrown out of office by Egypt’s military.

In November the private Egyptian CBC channel refused to broadcast one episode because it had “violated editorial policy”.

The decision came days after Bassem Youssef had lampooned the then head of the army, General Abdul-Fattah al-Sisi, over chocolates that bore his name.

In February, prosecutors filed fresh complaints, accusing Bassem Youssef of insulting the armed forces, the will of the Egyptian people and the “symbols” of Egypt.

Al-Bernameg had been on temporary hiatus during Egypt’s presidential election, which Abdul-Fattah al-Sisi won by an overwhelming margin.

Before its cancellation, the show had been due to return later this week.

[youtube ows3EzwHwV4 650]

Miley Cyrus’ car and jewellery stolen in LA home burglary

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Miley Cyrus’ car and jewellery stolen in LA home burglary

Miley Cyrus’ car and jewellery have been stolen after her home was burgled, the LAPD has confirmed.

Officers from LAPD’s North Hollywood station say they responded to a report of a break-in on Friday at the singer’s house in San Fernando Valley.

Miley Cyrus’ car and jewellery have been stolen after her LA home was burgled
Miley Cyrus’ car and jewellery have been stolen after her LA home was burgled

They are looking for a man and a women in connection with the theft.

Detectives say the pair scaled a fence and then got inside the house and garage while nobody was home.

A Maserati and an unspecified amount of jewellery were taken in the raid.

Police have asked that anyone with information about the crime contact detectives in LA.

Last month Miley Cyrus got a temporary restraining order against a man from Arizona who was stopped by police while trying to meet her.

[youtube ncyv8394Ic8 650]

Lupita Nyong’o joins Star Wars: Episode VII cast

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Lupita Nyong’o joins Star Wars: Episode VII cast

Lupita Nyong’o has joined the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII, it has been announced on the film’s website.

Gwendoline Christie, who currently stars in Game of Thrones as warrior Brienne of Tarth, has also been cast in the production.

The news was announced on the Star Wars website, although it did not say what roles the actresses would play.

Lupita Nyong'o and Gwendoline Christie have joined the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII
Lupita Nyong’o and Gwendoline Christie have joined the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII

Star Wars: Episode VII is due in cinemas on December 18 2015.

“I could not be more excited about Lupita and Gwendoline joining the cast of Episode VII,” Lucasfilm president and producer Kathleen Kennedy said.

“It’s thrilling to see this extraordinarily talented ensemble taking shape.”

Lupita Nyong’o and Gwendoline Christie join the already announced cast of John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow.

They will join original stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film.

Meanwhile, gossip website TMZ has posted a series of leaked pictures from the set of Episode VII, which began filming in Abu Dhabi last month.

The pictures appear to show a Tatooine-like marketplace and a new alien creature.

Maleficent debuts at the top of US box office

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Maleficent debuts at the top of US box office

Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent has debuted at the top of the North American box office, taking $70 million.

Maleficent, based on the villain from Sleeping Beauty, has given Angelina Jolie her biggest box office debut to date.

Last weekend’s number one, X-Men: Days of Future Past, dropped to second.

The movie took $32.6 million.

Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent has debuted at the top of the North American box office, taking $70 million
Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent has debuted at the top of the North American box office, taking $70 million

The weekend’s second highest new entry was Seth MacFarlane’s Western comedy, A Million Ways to Die in the West, starring Liam Neeson, Charlize Theron and Amanda Seyfried.

But it was a weak opening – $17.1 million – when compared with Seth McFarlane’s Ted, which opened with $54.4 million in 2012.

Despite its success, Maleficent could not match the financial power of Disney’s other recent re-imagined fairytales, Alice in Wonderland – which opened with $116m in 2010 – and Oz the Great and Powerful, which took $79 million in its debut weekend last year.

Maleficent, directed by Robert Stromber – the production designer on Alice in Wonderland and Oz the Great and Powerful, received mixed reviews from critics.

North American box office Top 5:

  1. Maleficent – $70 million
  2. X-Men: Days of Future Past – $32.6 million
  3. A Million Ways to Die in the West – $17.1 million
  4. Godzilla – $12.2 million
  5. Blended – $8.4 million

Source: Rentrak

[youtube w-XO4XiRop0 650]

Iran sandstorm kills at least four in Tehran

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Iran sandstorm kills at least four in Tehran

At least four people have been killed and about 30 injured after a powerful sandstorm has hit Iran’s capital, Tehran.

At its peak, the storm brought winds of up to 70mph, knocking over trees and damaging windows.

Such strong storms are unusual in Tehran, correspondents say.

At least four people have been killed and about 30 injured after a powerful sandstorm has hit Tehran
At least four people have been killed and about 30 injured after a powerful sandstorm has hit Tehran (photo AP)

The storm caused power cuts and traffic accidents from poor visibility as dust and sand engulfed parts of Tehran.

Some domestic flights to central Iran have been diverted, AP news agency reports.

One shopkeeper in Tehran, identified only as Nouri, told AP news agency: “It was a horrifying storm and suddenly everywhere went dark.

“I closed my store’s shutters to prevent damage. [A] big tree broke and knocked in the windows, shattering them.”

The total number of deaths is unclear. Iranian state television said five were killed, while state-run Irna news agency said four died.

Some of the deaths were reportedly caused by falling trees.

[youtube sRoLeo5pPpg 650]

Justin Bieber apologizes for telling racist joke

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Justin Bieber apologizes for telling racist joke

Justin Bieber has apologized for using the n-word while telling a racist joke.

A video of Justin Bieber making the comments while sat with friends was published on the Sun on Sunday website on June 1st.

It was originally filmed as part of his Never Say Never documentary in 2011.

The 20-year-old has released a statement saying: “I apologize for offending or hurting anyone with my childish and inexcusable mistake.”

The British newspaper claims people around Justin Bieber have known about the clip for some time and have spent money keeping it out of the public eye.

In the video, Justin Bieber asks: “Why are black people afraid of chainsaws?”

Justin Bieber then finished his joke by making the noise of the chainsaw and repeating the phrase “Run n*****” five times.

Justin Bieber has apologized for using the n-word while telling a racist joke
Justin Bieber has apologized for using the n-word while telling a racist joke

Someone who cannot be seen on camera says: “Don’t even say it. Don’t say it.”

A female voice then says: “You could say motorcycle too right?”

Earlier on Monday, Floyd Mayweather posted a picture of himself with Justin Bieber on his Instagram account along with a statement of support.

“Justin has been nothing but kind to me, my daughters and sons over the years,” he wrote.

“We all make mistakes when we are young, it’s part of growing up. I am proud of what he’s doing as a 20 year old musician and business man.”

The 37-year-old boxer has been friends with Justin Bieber for a few years.

A statement from Justin Bieber said: “As a kid, I didn’t understand the power of certain words and how they can hurt.

“I thought it was ok to repeat hurtful words and jokes, but didn’t realize at the time that it wasn’t funny and that in fact my actions were continuing the ignorance.

“Thanks to friends and family I learned from my mistakes and grew up and apologized for those wrongs.

“Now that these mistakes from the past have become public I need to apologize again to all those I have offended.

“I’m very sorry. I take my friendships with people of all cultures very seriously and I apologize for offending or hurting anyone with my childish and inexcusable mistake.

“I was a kid then and I am a man now who knows my responsibility to the world and to not make that mistake again.

“Ignorance has no place in our society and I hope the sharing of my faults can prevent others from making the same mistake in the future. I thought long and hard about what I wanted to say but telling the truth is always what’s right.

“Five years ago I made a reckless and immature mistake and I’m grateful to those close to me who helped me learn those lessons as a young man. Once again….I’m sorry.”

[youtube Pka89Xm4PoA 650]

King Juan Carlos of Spain abdication speech

Diane A. Wade
-
0
King Juan Carlos of Spain abdication speech

King Juan Carlos of Spain has announced his abdication after almost 40 years of ruling.

Spain’s PM Mariano Rajoy has announced the abdication in the morning but did not mention the reasons behind it in his speech.

A government source, however, has said King Juan Carlos was stepping down for “personal reasons”.

King Juan Carlos of Spain has announced his abdication after almost 40 years of ruling
King Juan Carlos of Spain has announced his abdication after almost 40 years of ruling

The king had been on the throne for almost 40 years. He took over after fascism in Spain came to an end with the death of General Franco in November 1975.

King Juan Carlos’ son Prince Felipe – who is 45 – will succeed him.

In his televised address, King Juan Carlos said his abdication was motivated by “a drive for renewal, to overcome and correct mistakes and open the way to a decidedly better future”.

King Juan Carlos said he made the decision to abdicate in January, when he turned 76.

Juan Carlos expressed gratitude to the Spanish people, and said the country had enjoyed a long period of peace, stability and progress.

The king said he made his decision “with great emotion”.

At the end of the relatively short speech, King Juan Carlos thanked his wife, Queen Sofia.

[youtube oKXvk6JH7_w 650]

France: Four people arrested on suspicion of recruiting militants to fight in Syria

Roy Siemens
-
0
France: Four people arrested on suspicion of recruiting militants to fight in Syria

French authorities have arrested four people have in the Paris region and southern France on suspicion of recruiting militants to fight in Syria.

The raids came a day after it emerged a Frenchman was being held by police investigating the murder of three people at the Brussels Jewish Museum.

Mehdi Nemmouche, 29, was arrested at a station in Marseille on Friday.

Prosecutors say he has claimed responsibility for the attack and spent more than a year in Syria.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazaneuve told Europe 1 radio on Monday: “There are people who recruit jihadists. There are as I’m speaking arrests being made.”

Mehdi Nemmouche was arrested at a station in Marseille on Friday
Mehdi Nemmouche was arrested at a station in Marseille on Friday

“We are acting everywhere. There will be no respite in the fight against terrorists.”

There is no suggestion of a link between the four arrests on Monday and the detention of Mehdi Nemmouche during a random check on a coach arriving from Amsterdam in southern France on Friday.

However, Mehdi Nemmouche is said to have had links with radical Islamists and served five years in jail in France for robbery before being released in December 2012.

When he was arrested, he had with him a Kalashnikov rifle and a handgun believed to have been used in the attack, the Paris prosecutor said.

Mehdi Nemmouche was also said to have had a white sheet emblazoned with the name of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, a jihadist group fighting in Syria, and a camera with a 40-second video showing the two guns and a voice recording, claiming responsibility for the killings.

Speaking on French radio station RTL on Monday, the head of French Jewish association CRIF, Roger Cukierman, called for more resources to be given to the foreign intelligence service, the DGSE, to track militants returning to France from Syria.

He feared “they would become 700 time bombs when they return”, referring to the estimated number of French-born jihadists in Syria.

Belgium has requested Mehdi Nemmouche’s extradition from France and police have to decide whether to extend his detention until Thursday.

Three people died when a gunman opened fire at the museum in the busy Sablon area of the Belgian capital on May 24. They were an Israeli couple in their 50s, and a French female volunteer.

A Belgian man, believed to be an employee of the museum, was critically injured.

[youtube PTeTLWALYcQ 650]

Samsung Z: World’s first smartphone using Tizen OS

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Samsung Z: World’s first smartphone using Tizen OS

Samsung Electronics has launched Samsung Z, the world’s first smartphone powered by the Tizen operating system.

The Samsung Z will go on sale in Russia in the July-to-September quarter.

Most Samsung phones currently use the Android platform, but the South Korean firm has been working with chipmaker Intel to develop Tizen as an alternative operating system.

It is seen as a way to make Samsung less dependent on Android’s developer, Google.

Samsung will show off the phone at the Tizen Developer Conference, being held this week in San Francisco.

It did not disclose the device’s price.

Samsung Electronics has launched Samsung Z, the world's first smartphone powered by the Tizen operating system
Samsung Electronics has launched Samsung Z, the world’s first smartphone powered by the Tizen operating system

Samsung is currently the world’s best-selling Android device manufacturer.

However, many other rivals such as HTC, Sony, LG and Huawei also use the operating system to power some of their devices.

As the competition in the smartphone sector increases, and growth rates slow, Samsung has been looking at ways to maintain its lead over rivals.

One of the areas that Samsung has been working on is Tizen – a new open source operating system for its gadgets.

Samsung has taken steps to try to encourage software creators.

It said that in order to “encourage more developers to join, the Tizen Store would provide a special promotional program to all developers for one year”.

Having its own app store could help Samsung generate more revenue from app downloads.

That is because currently customers who purchase apps on Android-powered phones typically funnel revenue to Google rather than Samsung itself.

Tizen is also seen by some as being attractive to app developers as it has promised to run software written in the HTML5 web language smoothly.

Mozilla’s Firefox OS also relies on HTML5, offering developers the prospect of cross-platform compatibility in which they can write a single version of their app for multiple operating systems, helping cut costs and coding time.

HTML5-based apps can also be made to work on Android and iOS.

But last year developers, including Google and Facebook, faced performance issues when they released products using it, and later switched to native versions.

Samsung itself delayed the launch of the first smartphones using the operating system.

However, the firm has been looking to adapt the operating system in various gadgets of late.

The latest version of its smartwatch – Galaxy Gear 2 – uses Tizen, unlike its Android-powered predecessor.

On Sunday, Samsung announced that it would release a software development kit for TVs that allows developers to build applications for Tizen-based TVs.

[youtube f8XiWbnMRjk 650]

Bilingualism can slow brain ageing

Kathryn R. Bown
-
0
Bilingualism can slow brain ageing

According to a University of Edinburgh study, learning a second language can have a positive effect on the brain, even if it is taken up in adulthood.

Researchers found that reading, verbal fluency and intelligence were improved in a study of 262 people tested either aged 11 or in their seventies.

A previous study suggested that being bilingual could delay the onset of dementia by several years.

The study is published in Annals of Neurology.

The big question in this study was whether learning a new language improved cognitive functions or whether individuals with better cognitive abilities were more likely to become bilingual.

Dr. Thomas Bak, from the Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, said he believed he had found the answer.

Learning a second language can have a positive effect on the brain, even if it is taken up in adulthood
Learning a second language can have a positive effect on the brain, even if it is taken up in adulthood

Using data from intelligence tests on 262 Edinburgh-born individuals at the age of 11, the study looked at how their cognitive abilities had changed when they were tested again in their seventies.

The research was conducted between 2008 and 2010.

All participants said they were able to communicate in at least one language other than English.

Of that group, 195 learned the second language before the age of 18, and 65 learned it after that time.

The findings indicate that those who spoke two or more languages had significantly better cognitive abilities compared to what would have been expected from their baseline test.

The strongest effects were seen in general intelligence and reading.

The effects were present in those who learned their second language early, as well as later in life.

Dr. Thomas Bak said the pattern they found was “meaningful” and the improvements in attention, focus and fluency could not be explained by original intelligence.

“These findings are of considerable practical relevance. Millions of people around the world acquire their second language later in life. Our study shows that bilingualism, even when acquired in adulthood, may benefit the aging brain.”

However, Dr. Thomas Bak admitted that the study also raised many questions, such as whether learning more than one language could also have the same positive effect on cognitive ageing and whether actively speaking a second language is better than just knowing how to speak it.

Dr. Alvaro Pascual-Leone, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, US, said: “The epidemiological study provides an important first step in understanding the impact of learning a second language and the ageing brain.

“This research paves the way for future causal studies of bilingualism and cognitive decline prevention.”

King Juan Carlos of Spain abdicates

Diane A. Wade
-
0
King Juan Carlos of Spain abdicates

Spain’s PM Mariano Rajoy has announced the abdication of King Juan Carlos.

King Juan Carlos of Spain, who is 76, has ruled since 1975, taking over after the death of dictator Francisco Franco.

The king’s son, Crown Prince Felipe, 45, will take over the throne.

King Juan Carlos of Spain has ruled since 1975, taking over after the death of dictator Francisco Franco
King Juan Carlos of Spain has ruled since 1975, taking over after the death of dictator Francisco Franco (photo Reuters)

For much of his reign, King Juan Carlos was seen as one of the world’s most popular monarchs, but recently many Spaniards have lost confidence in him.

His reputation has been tarnished by a long-running corruption investigation into his daughter and her husband.

Support for the king fell further when it was discovered he had been on a lavish elephant hunting trip to Botswana in the middle of Spain’s financial crisis.

Mariano Rajoy said the king was stepping down for personal reasons. His health is failing and he has had a number of hip operations in recent years.

The prime minister said King Juan Carlos had been a “tireless defender of our interests”.

“I’m convinced this is the best moment for change,” he added.

Mariano Rajoy said ministers would hold a special meeting on the issue.

[youtube wEaExSiBSeY 650]

Bowe Bergdahl release: Republicans and Democrats clash over prisoner deal

Roy Siemens
-
0
Bowe Bergdahl release: Republicans and Democrats clash over prisoner deal

Republicans and Democrats have clashed over the deal to swap five Guantanamo Bay detainees for a Taliban-held soldier, with Republicans warning it could put American lives at risk.

Senator John McCain said the detainees, who were transferred to Qatar, were some of the “highest high-risk people”.

Afghanistan also attacked the deal, saying handing prisoners to a third country was against international law.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, 28, was handed to US forces in Afghanistan on Saturday.

In an emotional address on Sunday, his father, Robert Bergdahl, said he was proud how far his son was willing to go to help the Afghan people, but warned that his recovery would take a long time.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was the only US soldier being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was the only US soldier being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan

Robert Bergdahl said he and his wife had not yet spoken to their son, who is in a good condition and currently undergoing medical care at a US military hospital in Germany.

Several Republicans have spoken out against the deal, warning that it set a worrying precedent and amounted to negotiating with terrorists.

John McCain said the Taliban released were “possibly responsible for the deaths of thousands” and may have “the ability to re-enter the fight”, in comments to CBS TV.

Republican chairman of the House intelligence committee, Mike Rogers, told CNN that Washington had “now set a price” for al-Qaeda ransom threats.

Chuck Hagel: “No shots were fired – it went as well as it could have.”

Republican representative Adam Kinzinger said he would celebrate Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s return but called the release of the Taliban men “shocking”.

Questions were raised over the legality of the deal, after the Obama administration did not give Congress sufficient notice about the transfer of the Taliban detainees.

However, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who is currently in Afghanistan, dismissed allegations of wrongdoing, saying the military had to act quickly “to essentially save his life”.

“We didn’t negotiate with terrorists… As I said and explained before, Sergeant Bergdahl was a prisoner of war. That’s a normal process in getting your prisoners back,” he told NBC TV.

US National Security Adviser Susan Rice said that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s failing health had created an “acute urgency” to act and therefore made it “necessary and appropriate” not to adhere to the 30-day notification requirement.

The Afghan government, which was not informed of the deal until after the exchange had taken place, condemned it as a “breach of international law” and urged the US and Qatar to “let the men go free”.

The five detainees are thought to be the most senior Afghans held at the US detention facility in Cuba, having been captured during America’s military campaign in 2001.

In a rare public statement on Sunday, Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar described the exchange as a “big victory”.

President Barack Obama said that he had received security guarantees from Qatar – which mediated the deal – “that it will put in place measures to protect our national security”.

They have been banned from leaving Qatar for at least a year.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, of Hailey, Idaho, was the only US soldier being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan. He was serving with an infantry regiment in Paktika province, near the Pakistani border, when he went missing on June 30 2009.

Solar Impulse 2 plane makes inaugural flight in Switzerland

James J. Williams
-
0
Solar Impulse 2 plane makes inaugural flight in Switzerland

The Solar Impulse 2 plane has made its inaugural flight.

The solar-powered plane will be taken on a round-the-world journey in 2015.

The Solar Impulse 2 vehicle lifted off from Payerne airfield in Switzerland at just after 03:35 GMT, returning two hours later.

It is a larger, upgraded version of the aircraft that flew across America last year with adventurers Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg at the controls.

For this maiden flight, test pilot Markus Scherdel was in the cockpit.

He climbed to just under 6,000ft, conducting a number of maneuvers to prove the handling of the aircraft.

The Solar Impulse 2 vehicle lifted off from Payerne airfield in Switzerland at just after 03.35 GMT, returning two hours later
The Solar Impulse 2 vehicle lifted off from Payerne airfield in Switzerland at just after 03.35 GMT, returning two hours later (photo Reuters)

Markus Scherdel reported some early vibrations, but overall the mission outcome appeared very positive.

“The initial results are in line with calculations and simulations,” read a later statement from the team.

Further flights will be conducted in the coming months in order for the experimental machine to attain certification.

The carbon-fiber aircraft has a huge wingspan, which at 72m is wider than a Boeing 747 jet. And yet, the vehicle weighs only 2.3 tonnes.

The tops of the wings are covered by 17,000 solar cells, which drive four brushless electric motors at speeds of up to 90mph.

During the day, the solar cells will recharge lithium batteries, which can then be used to keep the plane’s propellers turning through the night.

The first Solar Impulse plane set a number of world records, including the longest manned solar-powered flight at 26 hours, the first inter-continental flight in a solar-powered plane, and the greatest distance covered on a piloted solar-powered flight. (Autonomous solar-powered drones can stay aloft for weeks).

That last record was set during Bertrand Piccard’s and Andre Borschberg’s epic TransAmerica journey in May, June and July last year.

But as challenging as that effort was, it will be dwarfed by the difficulty and complexity of completing a global flight.

This is because it will have to include passage across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The latter could take all of five days and nights to complete.

Only one pilot can fit in the cockpit. It has a reclining seat to make room for exercising and to permit Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, whoever is at the controls, to take short catnaps.

[youtube kxiFT-P_Hek 650]

Salvador Sanchez Ceren sworn in as El Salvador’s president

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Salvador Sanchez Ceren sworn in as El Salvador’s president

Former El Salvador’s left-wing rebel leader Salvador Sanchez Ceren has been sworn in as the country’s president.

Salvador Sanchez Ceren, 69, of the FMLN party, becomes the first former guerrilla to lead the Central American country following his March victory.

In his inauguration speech, he promised to fight corruption and violence, and to govern “for everybody”.

El Salvador remains violent and deeply divided despite the end of a civil war in which some 75,000 people died.

Salvador Sanchez Ceren has been sworn in as El Salvador’s president
Salvador Sanchez Ceren has been sworn in as El Salvador’s president

Salvador Sanchez Ceren narrowly defeated the conservative candidate Norman Quijano by 0.2% in a run-off vote on March 9.

Speaking at his inauguration ceremony in the capital, San Salvador, he pledged “to serve as president of all Salvadorans”.

Salvador Sanchez Ceren added he would lead “with honesty, austerity, efficacy and transparency” in a country with high levels of corruption.

Last month, a Salvadoran judge issued an arrest warrant for a former President, Francisco Flores, who is accused of using $10 million of public money for personal use. He denies any wrongdoing.

Salvador Sanchez Ceren also promised that “security, employment and education” would be the priorities of his government.

El Salvador has one of the highest murder rates in the world, a problem largely blamed on gang violence.

As a rebel leader, Salvador Sanchez Ceren fought US-backed government forces during the civil conflict in which tens of thousands of people also disappeared.

[youtube tmS51NBuUPY 650]

Vitalii Sediuk given three years probation

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Vitalii Sediuk given three years probation

Vitalii Sediuk, who accosted Brad Pitt at Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent premiere in Los Angeles, has been sentenced to 3 years probation and ordered to attend a year’s psychological counseling.

The 25-year-old Ukrainian TV presenter pleaded no contest to battery and unlawful activity charges after the incident on Wednesday.

Vitalii Sediuk has been sentenced to 3 years probation and ordered to attend a year's psychological counseling
Vitalii Sediuk has been sentenced to 3 years probation and ordered to attend a year’s psychological counseling

Vitalii Sediuk was ordered to stay 500 yards away from all celebrity events, including awards shows and premieres.

He must also stay away from Brad Pitt and his partner Angelina Jolie.

Vitalii Sediuk had been charged with four counts of battery, assault, unlawful activity and interference at a theatrical event, however two of the charges were dismissed as part of his plea deal.

The Ukrainian presenter, who is known for pulling pranks on celebrities, was also sentenced to 20 days of community service during his 36-month probation.

His lawyer Anthony Willoughby said he expected the restraining orders against his client to be lifted after a year if he behaved.

Vitalii Sediuk is due back in court for a hearing on July 8.

[youtube AZ_jDfFp_MU 650]

Mary Soames dead: Winston Churchill’s daughter dies at 91

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Mary Soames dead: Winston Churchill’s daughter dies at 91

Winston Churchill’s last surviving child, Mary Soames, has died at the age of 91, her family have announced.

Mary Soames passed away on Saturday at her home after a short illness.

She was the youngest of the five children of the wartime prime minister and his wife Clementine.

Mary Soames was the youngest of the five children of Winston Churchill
Mary Soames was the youngest of the five children of Winston Churchill

One of her sons, former Conservative minister Nicholas Soames, said: “She was a truly remarkable and extraordinary woman, who led a very distinguished life.”

Born Mary Spencer-Churchill, she served in the auxiliary territorial service during World War Two, manning anti-aircraft batteries in London, Belgium and Germany.

She accompanied her father on several of his most important trips, including to the 1945 Potsdam Conference, where Winston Churchill, Stalin and President Harry Truman discussed the future of post-war Germany and Europe.

Mary Soames enjoyed a lifetime of public service and through both birth and marriage, had life long association with the Conservative Party.

Her late husband, Christopher Soames, was a prominent Conservative politician who served as a minister under Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home and Margaret Thatcher.

In later life, Lady Mary Soames became a patron of several leading charities and was a successful author. She published a biography of her mother and edited a collection of her parents’ letters.

[youtube weJRCneT_IA 650]

Bowe Bergdahl release: US receives Qatar guarantees over Afghan prisoner deal

Roy Siemens
-
0
Bowe Bergdahl release: US receives Qatar guarantees over Afghan prisoner deal

President Barack Obama has announced that he received security guarantees from Qatar over five Guantanamo Bay prisoners who were transferred to secure the release of US soldier Bowe Bergdahl in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, 28, was handed to US forces after being held for nearly five years by the Taliban.

He has left Afghanistan and is en route to a US military hospital in Germany.

Five Afghan detainees were released from the US prison in Cuba and handed to Qatar, which mediated the deal.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who is said to be in good condition, was the only US soldier being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

His parents said they were “joyful and relieved” to hear of their son’s release.

Barack Obama was joined at the White House by Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's parents, Robert and Jani
Barack Obama was joined at the White House by Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s parents, Robert and Jani (photo AP)

Hours after the release, President Barack Obama told reporters the Qatari government had given the US assurances “that it will put in place measures to protect our national security”.

He also thanked the Qatari authorities for their role in acting as a go-between during indirect US-Taliban negotiations that led to the deal.

The exchanged prisoners are thought to be the most senior Afghans still held at Guantanamo. Under the deal, they will be banned from leaving Qatar for at least a year.

The Taliban said they welcomed their release with “great happiness”.

“While Sgt. Bergdahl was gone he was never forgotten,” Barack Obama said, adding that the US had an “ironclad commitment” to bringing home its prisoners of war.

He was joined by Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s parents, Robert and Jani, at the White House on Saturday. They offered thanks to those who took part in securing their son’s freedom.

In an emotional speech, Robert Bergdahl said his son was having trouble speaking English after his rescue.

Officials said the Taliban had handed Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl over on Saturday evening, local time, in eastern Afghanistan, in an exchange that involved several dozen US special forces.

Bowe Bergdahl, of Hailey, Idaho, was captured on June 30 2009, about two months after arriving in eastern Afghanistan.

In January, the US military obtained a new video of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, giving his family renewed hope of his eventual return.

[youtube dm6u4voY44g 650]

Six climbers go missing on Mount Rainier in Washington

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Six climbers go missing on Mount Rainier in Washington

Six climbers are presumed dead after they went missing on Mount Rainier in the north-western Washington.

Mount Rainier National Park spokeswoman Fawn Bauer said camping gear had been found and distress signals heard from the group’s avalanche beacons.

She said there was little chance for survival.

The group, from Seattle’s Alpine Ascents International, was last heard from on Wednesday.

There were two guides and four clients in the party, which began a five-day expedition last Monday.

Six climbers are presumed dead after they went missing on Mount Rainier
Six climbers are presumed dead after they went missing on Mount Rainier

Fawn Bauer told Reuters the camping gear was found more than 3,000ft below the group’s last known position and the group may have been caught in an avalanche.

“We don’t believe there was a viable chance for survival,” she said.

The search effort has been suspended.

Fawn Bauer said: “It would expose our rangers to pretty extreme conditions, so we are not able to do any kind of ground searching of that area. And, in all honesty, we may never be able to get on the ground there.”

The last contact was via satellite phone on Wednesday at an elevation of 12,800ft.

At that time a rain system was sweeping through.

When the party failed to return on Friday a helicopter was dispatched.

Mount Rainier stands at 14,410ft and attracts thousands of climbers each year.

Shangri-La Dialogue 2014: China denounces Japan and US over provocative speeches

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Shangri-La Dialogue 2014: China denounces Japan and US over provocative speeches

Chinese army general Wang Guanzhonghas accused Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe and US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel of having “provocative” speeches against China at an Asian security forum in Singapore.

He said Chuck Hagel and Shinzo Abe’s comments at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue summit were “unacceptable”.

Chuck Hagel had earlier said China was “destabilizing” the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, PM Shinzo Abe had vowed to give greater support to South-East Asian countries.

The forum, which brings together the US and South-East Asian countries, comes amid growing tensions between China, Vietnam and the Philippines, with Japan-China ties also strained over disputed islands in the East China Sea.

General Wang Guanzhonghas accused Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe and US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel of having provocative speeches against China
General Wang Guanzhonghas accused Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe and US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel of having provocative speeches against China

Apparently deviating from his prepared speech, Wang Guanzhong accused PM Shinzo Abe and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel of coordinating and encouraging each other to attack China in their remarks.

He said it was “unimaginable” to receive such “unwanted criticisms against China”.

In a keynote address on Friday, Shinzo Abe outlined his vision for a more robust role in resolving territorial disputes in the region.

He also offered to provide coastal boats to neighboring countries wary of Beijing’s tactics.

Chinese officials responded at the time by saying Shinzo Abe was using the “myth” of a China threat to strengthen Japan’s security policy.

Chuck Hagel later weighed in, accusing China of threatening the region’s long-term progress by undertaking “destabilizing, unilateral actions asserting its claims in the South China Sea”.

He warned the US would “not look the other way” when nations ignored international rules.

Tensions have flared recently, with China declaring an air defense zone in the East China Sea and adopting a more confrontational stance over the disputed islands in the South China Sea, correspondents say.

They say that although some ASEAN members will be reluctant to antagonize China because of their economic and political ties, others are likely to welcome an increased role from Japan.

Beijing claims a U-shaped swathe of the South China Sea that covers areas other South-East Asian nations say are their territory.

[youtube Cv4PlPBMLq8 650]

[youtube bSJqRZ6EtGA 650]

2022 Qatar World Cup: FIFA faces $5 million corruption claim

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
2022 Qatar World Cup: FIFA faces $5 million corruption claim

FIF is facing new allegations of corruption over its controversial decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

The Sunday Times has obtained millions of secret documents – emails, letters and bank transfers – which it alleges are proof that the disgraced Qatari football official Mohamed Bin Hammam made payments totaling $5 million to football officials in return for their support for the Qatar bid.

Qatar 2022 and Mohamed Bin Hammam have always strenuously denied the former FIFA vice-president actively lobbied on their behalf in the run-up to the vote in December 2010.

But, according to emails obtained by the Sunday Times, it is now clear that Mohamed Bin Hammam, 65, was lobbying on Qatar’s behalf at least a year before the decision.

The documents also show how Mohamed Bin Hammam was making payments direct to football officials in Africa to allegedly buy their support for Qatar in the contest.

Qatar strongly denies any wrongdoing and insists that Mohamed Bin Hammam never had any official role supporting the bid and always acted independently from the Qatar 2022 campaign.

Mohamed Bin Hammam allegedly made payments totaling $5 million to football officials in return for their support for the Qatar bid
Mohamed Bin Hammam allegedly made payments totaling $5 million to football officials in return for their support for the Qatar bid

When approached by the Sunday Times to respond to their claims, Mohamed Bin Hammam’s son Hamad Al Abdulla declined to comment on his behalf.

Although the vast majority of the officials did not have a vote, the Sunday Times alleges Mohamed Bin Hammam’s strategy was to win a groundswell of support for the Qatari bid which would then influence the four African FIFA executive committee members who were able to take part in the election.

The Sunday Times also alleges that it has documents which prove Mohamed Bin Hammam paid 305,000 Euros ($410,000) to cover the legal expenses of another former FIFA executive committee member from Oceania, Reynald Temarii.

Reynald Temarii, from Tahiti, was unable to vote in the contest as he had already been suspended by FIFA after he was caught out by a Sunday Times sting asking bogus American bid officials for money in return for his support.

But the paper now alleges that Mohamed Bin Hammam provided him with financial assistance to allow him to appeal against the FIFA suspension, delaying his removal from the executive committee and blocking his deputy David Chung from voting in the 2022 election.

The publication claims that had David Chung been allowed to vote he would have supported Qatar’s rivals Australia. Instead there was no representative from Oceania allowed to vote, a decision which may have influenced the outcome in Qatar’s favor.

The paper also makes fresh allegations about the relationship between Mohamed Bin Hammam and his disgraced FIFA ally Jack Warner, from Trinidad.

Although Jack Warner was forced to resign as a FIFA vice-president in 2011, after it was proved he helped Mohamed Bin Hammam bribe Caribbean football officials in return for their support in his bid to oust the long-standing FIFA president Sepp Blatter, the paper says it has evidence which shows more than $1.6 million was paid by Bin Hammam to Warner, including $450,000 in the period before the vote.

The new allegations will place FIFA under fresh pressure to re-run the vote for the 2022 World Cup, which was held in conjunction with the vote for the 2018 tournament.

FIFA’s chief investigator Michael Garcia is already conducting a long-running inquiry into allegations of corruption and wrongdoing during the 2018/22 decisions. He is due to meet senior officials from the Qatar 2022 organizing committee in Oman on Monday.

[youtube CR7Iwug4TSY 650]

Jodi Arias still faces death penalty

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Jodi Arias still faces death penalty

According to court documents, Jodi Arias has failed to convince Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens that she should be spared the death penalty for killing ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander.

Jodi Arias has failed to convince Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens that she should be spared the death penalty
Jodi Arias has failed to convince Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens that she should be spared the death penalty

The documents show that Judge Sherry Stephens dismissed claims by Jodi Arias’ attorneys that her defense was hurt when a member of the defense team was prevented from visiting Arizona jails.

There was no evidence that Jodi Arias “suffered any prejudice” from the incident, Sherry Stephens said in a ruling filed Friday, Reuters reported.

A woman who helps gather information to fight death sentences was barred for a week from the county jails in March after she was accused of smuggling out a drawing by Jodi Arias, Reuters said.

Jodi Arias, 33, was convicted in 2013 of killing 30-year-old Travis Alexander in June 2008. The same jury found her eligible for the death penalty but couldn’t agree on an actual sentence.

A new jury for the penalty phase will be picked September 8.

Jodi Arias contended that she killed Travis Alexander in self-defense and that the relationship was abusive.

Jenna Ushkowitz confirms split from Michael Trevino

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Jenna Ushkowitz confirms split from Michael Trevino

Glee star Jenna Ushkowitz and her partner Michael Trevino have split after three years of dating.

Jenna Ushkowitz, 28, confirmed the breakup herself while attending the premiere of Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy’s HBO film The Normal Heart in Beverly Hills, California, on May 19. When a photographer asked if the pair were still an item, she replied: “No, we’re not together anymore.”

According to one insider, the relationship has been over for some time.

Jenna Ushkowitz and Michael Trevino have split after three years of dating
Jenna Ushkowitz and Michael Trevino have split after three years of dating

Jenna Ushkowitz signed autographs for fans during the interaction, and kept her head down.

“That’s okay, no worries,” she added, smiling, when the photographer apologized.

“We’re wonderful.”

Jenna Ushkowitz and Vampire Diaries star Michael Trevino, 29, made their first public appearance together at the 2011 SAG Awards. Last January, Jenna Ushkowitz posted a throwback picture of the pair on the SAG red carpet in honor of Michael Trevino’s birthday.

“Happy birthday to my best friend, the one who has taught me how to laugh and love more and more everyday,” she gushed.

[youtube wFpjCVh8QA4 650]

1...572573574...1,245Page 573 of 1,245