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Germany Regional Elections: Angela Merkel’s CDU Beaten into Third Place by AfD

Diane A. Wade
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Germany Regional Elections: Angela Merkel’s CDU Beaten into Third Place by AfD

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling CDU party has been beaten into third place by anti-immigrant and anti-Islam the Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) in regional elections in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, partial results have shown.

The AfD party took about 21% of the vote behind the centre-left SPD’s 30%.

Angela Merkel’s CDU was backed by only about 19% of those who voted, according to the partial results.

Today’s vote was seen as a key test before German parliamentary elections in 2017.Angela Merkel on Greece debts

Before it, all of Germany’s other parties ruled out forming a governing coalition with the AfD.

However, the AfD’s strong showing could weaken Angela Merkel ahead of the national elections next year.

Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, in the former East Germany, is where the chancellor’s own constituency is located.

Under Angela Merkel’s leadership, Germany has been taking in large numbers of refugees and migrants – 1.1 million in 2015 – and anti-immigrant feeling has increased.

The AfD, initially an anti-euro party, has enjoyed a rapid rise as the party of choice for voters dismayed by Angela Merkel’s policy.

However, its political power is limited and critics accuse it of engaging in xenophobic scaremongering.

The CDU has been the junior coalition partner in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania since 2006 and is likely to remain in the governing coalition. However, its 19% in the election is its worst ever result in the state, German broadcasters said.

Addressing supporters, local AfD leader Leif-Erik Holm said: “Perhaps this is the beginning of the end of Angela Merkel’s chancellorship today.”

Hong Kong Domestic Workers March Against High-Rise Windows Cleaning

Nancy Clayson
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Hong Kong Domestic Workers March Against High-Rise Windows Cleaning

Hong Kong maids have taken to the streets of the city to demand a ban on them being asked to clean windows in high-rise buildings.

The protest came after the deaths of several helpers in recent months.

Domestic workers also called for a pay rise, a limit on working hours and better accommodation.

Spokesman for the Asian Migrants Co-ordinating Body Eman Villanueva told the South China Morning Post: “We are hopeful that our demands will be met.”

He added: “There are no reasons to reject them unless this is an anti-immigrant government.”

Photo AFP
Photo AFP

Early last month, a 35-year-old Filipino domestic worker fell to her death as she was reportedly cleaning the windows of her employer’s flat. At least four other helpers are reported to have died this year from work accidents or suicide.

The protest also called for a rise in the minimum wage for foreign domestic workers to HK$5,000 (US$645) a month.

Hong Kong’s minimum wage is currently HK$4,210 per month, and employers are required to provide “suitable accommodation” as well as free food or a food allowance.

The South China Morning Post quotes a study by the non-profit Justice Centre which suggests the average domestic worker in Hong Kong works nearly 12 hours a day, and nearly 40% did not have their own room.

Mother Teresa of Kolkata Declared A Saint by Pope Francis

James J. Williams
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Mother Teresa of Kolkata Declared A Saint by Pope Francis

Mother Teresa has been declared a saint by Pope Francis in a ceremony at the Vatican.

Tens of thousands of pilgrims had arrived at the St Peter’s Square for the Mass and canonization.

Two miraculous cures of the sick after Mother Teresa’s death in 1997 have been attributed to her intercession.

In 2002, the Vatican ruled that an Indian woman’s stomach tumor had been miraculously cured after prayers to Mother Teresa.

Pope Francis cleared the way for sainthood last year when he recognized a second miracle attributed to Mother Teresa.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

Meanwhile in India, a special Mass was celebrated at the Missionaries of Charity, the order Mother Teresa founded in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Many pilgrims arrived at the Vatican before dawn on September 4 to get a good spot among the masses for the ceremony.

Cardinal Angelo Amato read a brief biography of the nun’s work, then asked the Pope to canonize her in the name of the Church.

The pontiff responded: “After due deliberation and frequent prayer for divine assistance, and having sought the counsel of many of our brother bishops, we declare and define Blessed Teresa of Calcutta to be a saint and we enroll her among the saints, decreeing that she is to be venerated as such by the whole Church.”

Hundreds of Missionaries of Charity sisters attended the event, along with 13 heads of state or government.

Some 1,500 homeless people across Italy were also brought to Rome in buses to be given seats of honor at the celebration – and then a pizza lunch served by 250 nuns and priests of the Sisters of Charity order.

Large TV screens were set up at Mother House in Kolkata for the Vatican ceremony.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother Teresa founded a sisterhood that runs 19 homes.

She died in 1997 at the age of 87 and was beatified in 2003, the first step to sainthood.

Her work complements Francis’ vision of a Church that serves the underprivileged.

Mother Teresa’s canonization is a centerpiece of his Jubilee Year of Mercy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RighzMfaZqA

Jackie Chan to Receive Honorary Oscar

Sonia Pantiss
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Jackie Chan to Receive Honorary Oscar

Jackie Chan will receive an honorary Academy Award for his “extraordinary achievements” in film.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also voted to give honorary Oscars to British editor Anne V. Coates, casting director Lynn Stalmaster and documentary maker Frederick Wiseman.

Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs described the recipients as “true pioneers and legends in their crafts”.

All of them will be honored at the Academy’s Governors Awards on November 12.

Jackie Chan, 62, has starred in dozens of martial arts movies in his native Hong Kong, including Police Story, Armor of God and their various sequels.

The actor went on to have huge international success with hits like Rumble in the Bronx, animated movie Kung Fu Panda and the Rush Hour franchise.Jackie Chan honorary Oscar 2016

In addition to starring and performing his own stunts, Jackie Chan has written, directed, produced and choreographed many of his movies.

According to the Academy, Jackie Chan has spent four decades “charming audiences with his dazzling athleticism, inventive stunt work and boundless charisma”.

Jackie Chan posted a message on Facebook thanking his family, his fans and the Academy: “I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to the Oscars for giving me this award of encouragement and recognizing my achievements while I’m still <<young>>.

“I’m absolutely honored to be the first Chinese in history to receive this award.

“To be honest, making an action movie isn’t easy. It’s normal for us to get hurt and bleed. Many of us have sustained a body full of injuries and I’m no exception to the case.

“That’s why I’d like to share this honor with my brothers of the JC Stunt Team who have been with me through good times and bad times over the many years, and I’d like to share this award with every action movie star from all over the world!”

Jackie Chan, who has never been nominated for a competitive Academy Award, added that he had set himself a goal that the honorary statuette “won’t be my last one”.

He said: “I don’t think the Oscars have a rule where you can’t win another golden statue after receiving an honorary award, right?”

Born in Reigate in Surrey in 1925, Anne V. Coates has spent more than 60 years as a film editor and won an Oscar for her work on 1962’s Lawrence of Arabia.

Now 90, she recently worked on Fifty Shades of Grey, the successful film version of EL James’s international best-seller.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1927, Lynn Stalmaster has had a hand in casting more than 200 feature films, including The Graduate and Deliverance.

Frederick Wiseman, meanwhile, has made almost a movie a year since 1967, among them his three-hour 2014 epic about the National Gallery in London.

The honorary Oscars are intended to celebrate “extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy”.

Germany Regional Elections 2016: Angela Merkel’s CDU Challenged by Anti-Migrant AfD

Diane A. Wade
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Germany Regional Elections 2016: Angela Merkel’s CDU Challenged by Anti-Migrant AfD

Voters in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania are going to the polls in a vote seen as a test of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s policies towards migrants and refugees.

The anti-migrant and anti-Islam Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) could get more votes than Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU).

This would weaken Angela Merkel ahead of national elections in 2017.

However, all Germany’s other parties have ruled out forming a governing coalition with the AfD.

So the AfD stands no chance of forming a government in the state.

However, the party has seen huge gains in various regional elections over the last year.Angela Merkel on migrant crisis

Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, in the former East Germany, is where Angela Merkel’s own constituency is located.

Polls show Merkel’s CDU polling behind the AfD, and the chancellor told voters in the state: “It’s going to be a tight race – every vote counts.”

One voting intentions poll showed the centre-left Social Democrats first with 28%, while the AfD edged ahead of the CDU with 23% to 20%.

The AfD is believed to be attracting voters away from the center-right CDU.

Germany is taking in large numbers of refugees – 1.1 million in 2015 – and anti-immigrant feeling has increased.

The AfD, initially an anti-euro party, has become the outlet of choice for voters frustrated by the chancellor’s policy of welcoming migrants.

The party’s slogan nationwide is: “Let’s end asylum chaos.”

On September 3, Angela Merkel told Bild newspaper: “We did not reduce benefits for anyone in Germany as a result of the aid for refugees. In fact, we actually saw social improvements in some areas.

“We took nothing away from people here. We are still achieving our big goal of maintaining and improving the quality of life in Germany.”

Only 2% of refugees arriving in Germany have gone to live in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnPN3_qJuKs

Mother Teresa to Be Declared A Saint in Vatican Ceremony

James J. Williams
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Mother Teresa to Be Declared A Saint in Vatican Ceremony

Mother Teresa is to be declared a saint at a ceremony in the Vatican on September 4.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the ceremony led by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square.

Two miraculous cures of the sick after Mother Teresa’s death in 1997 have been attributed to her intercession.

Mother Teresa was famous for working with the desperately poor in India.

In India, there will be ceremonies at the Missionaries of Charity, the order the Nobel Peace Prize winner founded in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

Pope Francis will celebrate a Mass and Canonization in St Peter’s Square at 10:30 local time.

Many pilgrims arrived at the Vatican before dawn on September 4 to get a good spot for the Mass.

Some 1,500 homeless people across Italy are also being brought to Rome in buses to be given seats of honor at the celebration – and then a pizza lunch served by 250 nuns and priests of the Sisters of Charity order.

Mother Teresa founded a sisterhood that runs 19 homes.

However, Mother Teresa was not without her critics, as some people noted a lack of hygiene in the hospitals run by her sisterhood, and said she accepted money from dictators for her charity work.

Mother Teresa died in 1997 at the age of 87 and was beatified in 2003, the first step to sainthood.

In 2002, the Vatican ruled that an Indian woman’s stomach tumor had been miraculously cured after prayers to Mother Teresa.

Pope Francis cleared the way for sainthood in 2015 when he recognized a second miracle attributed to the nun.

Born in 1910 to ethnic Albanian parents as Agnese Gonxha Bojaxhiu, she grew up in what is now the Macedonian capital, Skopje, but was then part of the Ottoman Empire.

At the age of 19, she joined the Irish order of Loreto and in 1929 was sent to India, where she taught at a school in Darjeeling under the name of Therese.

In 1946 she moved to Kolkata to help the destitute and, after a decade, set up a hospice and a home for abandoned children.

Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950. The sisterhood now has 4,500 nuns worldwide.

She achieved worldwide acclaim for her work in Kolkata’s slums, but her critics accused her of pushing a hard-line Catholicism, mixing with dictators and accepting funds from them for her charity.

It often takes decades for people to reach sainthood after their death, but beatification was rushed through by Pope John Paul II.

Pope Francis was known to be keen to complete the process during the Church’s Holy Year of Mercy, which runs to November 2016.

Hong Kong Elections 2016: Voters To Choose 35 Lawmakers in City’s New Legislative Council

Diane A. Wade
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Hong Kong Elections 2016: Voters To Choose 35 Lawmakers in City’s New Legislative Council

Hong Kong is voting in the first major elections since pro-democracy protests in 2014.

Voters will choose 35 lawmakers based on geographical constituencies and 35 people to represent selected trades.

Hong Kong has partial democracy and not everybody can vote for all the seats. Thirty seats are decided by a pool of just 6% of the population.

Polls opened at 07:30 local time and are due to close 15 hours later.

The vote does not elect the Chief Executive, who is the head of government, but many analysts believe the outcome of today’s vote could have an impact on whether China grants current leader CY Leung a second term in office.

Photo AP
Photo AP

For two months in 2014 protesters demanded his resignation as the Occupy movement occupied major parts of Hong Kong and caused political upheaval while calling for the right to elect a leader directly.

Three main groups compete in September 4 elections: pro-Beijing parties including pro-business parties; traditional pro-democracy parties known as pan-democrats and localists, who want democracy but think there should be more confrontation with the government – some think Hong Kong should have more autonomy, while some advocate full independence.

The seats are in the Legislative Council, which passes laws and budgets in the territory.

There are 30 so-called functional constituencies which represent various professional and commercial groups, such as insurance, catering or education. These are voted in by company representatives in their industries.

Anyone without a functional constituency vote can vote for the final five seats.

The system means that although Hong Kong has 3.7 million voters, 30 of the seats in the Legislative Council are determined by a pool of just 239,724 people.

Donald Trump Visits Black Church in Detroit

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Visits Black Church in Detroit

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has visited a black church in Detroit in an attempt to claw some of the minority vote away from Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Donald Trump, 70, told the congregation he “fully understands that the African American community has suffered discrimination”.

According to recent polls, Donald Trump, who is lagging behind Hillary Clinton, has low support among black and Hispanic voters.

Donald Trump was accompanied by Ben Carson, the former Republican presidential hopeful who grew up in Detroit.

The New York businessman arrived at the church to the sound of protests against him taking place outside. Inside, Donald Trump gave a scripted one-on-one interview with the church’s pastor, Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, which will be aired by Bishop Jackson’s own Impact TV network next week.

Donald Trump then attended a service at the church before addressing the congregation with a prepared speech, during which he struck an unusually measured tone.

Photo Youtube
Photo Youtube

He said: “Nothing is more sad than when we sideline young black men with tremendous potential.”

Donald Trump also said there were “wrongs that need to be made right” for the black community, and praised black churches, adding: “For centuries the African American church has been the conscience of our country.”

The Republican pledged to revive Detroit, which has fallen behind economically since the decline of its once-dominant car industry, promising “new roads and bridges everywhere”.

In his interview with Bishop Jackson, Donald Trump answered a set of pre-approved questions with replies prepared by his campaign staff and the Republican National Committee, the New York Times reported.

The Times published a leaked copy of the 12 questions and answers, which covered police killings, racial tension, and accusations that Donald Trump is racist.

He did not initially intend to address the congregation, the Times said, but a spokesman for Donald Trump’s campaign later said plans had changed to incorporate a five to 10 minute scripted address.

Donald Trump has attempted in recent weeks to appeal to both black and Hispanic voters, claiming he would create jobs in poor cities.

On September 2, he met black religious and community leaders in Philadelphia and days earlier saw black and Latino Republicans in New York.

However, months of hard-line rhetoric on immigration and social issues have done little to endear Donald Trump to minority groups.

He has been criticized by some for addressing black issues in front of largely white audiences, and for making critical statements about black communities.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Democratic Representative Brenda Lawrence are expected to speak against Donald Trump in the city on September 3.

Davao Attack: Philippines Explosion Blamed on Abu Sayyaf

Roy Siemens
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Davao Attack: Philippines Explosion Blamed on Abu Sayyaf

According to the Filipino government, the Abu Sayyaf militant group was responsible for a bomb attack in Davao, the home city of newly-elected President Rodrigo Duterte.

At least 14 people were killed and other 60 wounded in the bomb attack at a market in the southern city of Davao, the government has said.

Rodrigo Duterte – who was in Davao at the time of the attack but was not near the market – has declared a “state of lawlessness” following the explosion.

This allows troops to be based in cities to assist the police.

National Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that Abu Sayyaf wanted to retaliate after suffering heavy casualties on its stronghold of Jolo island about 550 miles from Davao.

Photo EPA
Photo EPA

“We have predicted this – and warned our troops accordingly,” Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement.

A presidential spokesman said investigators had found shrapnel from a mortar-based improvised explosive device (IED) at the scene.

The explosion took place in an area frequently visited by Rodrigo Duterte.

The president said the Philippines was going through “extraordinary times” which was why he had decided to allow the security forces to conduct searches previously done solely by the police.

In the aftermath of the explosion there were conflicting claims as to who may have carried it out.

Mindanao police director Manuel Gaerlan was reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer as putting forward a theory that “disgruntled vendors” upset over the awarding of stalls in the market were responsible.

The government for their part initially said they were considering the possibility that drug syndicates were behind the blast before concluding that Abu Sayyaf were to blame.

A spokesman for the Abu Sayyaf was reported to have claimed responsibility soon after the attack.

However, the Inquirer quoted a senior Abu Sayyaf leader as saying it was in fact carried out by “an allied group”.

The region has been under a heightened security alert in recent weeks because of a military offensive against Abu Sayyaf.

Davao is the biggest city in the southern Philippines and has a population of about two million people. It is about 1,000 miles from the capital Manila.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUBl_IbgY8U

Colin Kaepernick Protest: 49ers May Lose Santa Clara Police Protection

Clyde K. Valle
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Colin Kaepernick Protest: 49ers May Lose Santa Clara Police Protection

Santa Clara police officers have threatened to boycott the home games of the San Francisco 49ers if the organization fails to take action to halt protests by its quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Colin Kaepernick, 28, has refused to stand for the national anthem in a protest against the plight of black people in the US.

A letter from Santa Clara police says Colin Kaepernick’s actions and statements are “false and insulting”.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

It accused the 49ers of failing to take any action to stop them.

Colin Kaepernick’s protest has stemmed from the racial tensions that increased across the nation this year amid a string of police killings and subsequent revenge attacks.

The quarterback stayed seated during The Star-Spangled Banner at a game a week ago and on Thursday chose to kneel during the anthem.

Colin Kaepernick has said he will continue until he sees improvements in US race relations.

The Santa Clara Police Officers’ Association letter, obtained by NBC Bay Area, said that Colin Kaepernick had “made the allegation that police officers are getting paid to murder people”.

It accused the 49ers of “allowing Kaepernick to wear exposed socks with the image of a pig wearing a police hat”.

The letter said: “The 49ers organization has taken no action to stop or prevent Mr Kaepernick from continuing to make inaccurate, incorrect and inflammatory statements.

“If the 49ers organization fails to take action to stop this type of inappropriate workplace behavior, it could result in officers choosing not to work at your facilities.

“Our members have the right to do their job in an environment free of unjustified and insulting attacks.”

About 70 Santa Clara officers patrol Levi’s Stadium during the home games.

On September 1, Colin Kaepernick vowed to continue his protest, saying: “The message is that we have a lot of issues in this country that we need to deal with.”

Teammate Eric Reid joined him in the latest protest.

Seattle Seahawks player Jeremy Lane also sat on the bench during the anthem at a game in Oakland.

Jeremy Lane later told the News Tribune: “I wasn’t trying to say anything, just standing behind Kaepernick.”

Colin Kaepernick’s anthem protest has drawn strong reactions both in opposition and support.

An online petition demanding the NFL punish Colin Kaepernick attracted more than 53,000 signatures by September 2.

However, some veterans and military members tweeted their support for Colin Kaepernick with the hashtag #VeteransForKaepernick.

The NFL says it encourages players to stand for the anthem but that it is not a requirement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU5vPc2_St0

China Announces Paris Climate Deal Ratification

James J. Williams
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China Announces Paris Climate Deal Ratification

China has ratified the Paris global climate agreement, state news agency Xinhua reports.

China is the world’s largest emitter of harmful CO2 emissions, which cause climate change.

In December 2015, countries agreed to cut emissions enough to keep the global average rise in temperatures below 2C.

China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee adopted “the proposal to review and ratify the Paris Agreement” on September 3 at the end of a week-long session.

The Paris deal is the world’s first comprehensive climate agreement. The deal will only come into force legally after it is ratified by at least 55 countries, which between them produce 55% of global carbon emissions.Paris climate change conference 2015

When the United States – the world’s second-largest emitter – follows China’s lead, it will bump the tally up to 40%.

Before China’s announcement, the 23 nations that had ratified the agreement accounted for just over 1% of emissions.

Analysts warn that the target of keeping temperature rises below 2C is already in danger of being breached.

For 14 consecutive months meteorologists have recorded the hottest month on record.

Average temperatures worldwide are likely to increase more in the coming years as the effect of previous carbon emissions makes itself felt.

The G20 summit in Hangzhou, starting on September 4, is a meeting of leaders from 20 countries.

President Barack Obama has now arrived in China on what is expected to be his last trip to Asia as the US president.

Barack Obama is set to announce on September 3 that the US is formally joining the Paris Agreement.

It is thought that he and China’s President Xi Jinping will make a joint announcement at a bilateral meeting.

Italy Earthquake: Charlie Hebdo Cartoon Sparks Outrage

Diane A. Wade
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Italy Earthquake: Charlie Hebdo Cartoon Sparks Outrage

Charlie Hebdo comes under fire on social media for publishing a cartoon depicting Italian earthquake victims as pasta dishes.

The cartoon which features in the satirical French magazine’s current issue refers to the town of Amatrice, one of the areas hardest hit by the 6.2-magnitude earthquake last week.

Amatrice is home of spaghetti all’amatriciana, a dish with ingredients including tomato sauce, and guanciale ham.

Photo Charlie Hebdo
Photo Charlie Hebdo

The cartoon shows an injured man and a woman standing next to a pile of rubble from which feet can be seen. Each of the standing figures has been named after a pasta dish.

The bandaged man is shown under the words penne tomato sauce, a woman with burns is depicted as penne gratin, and bodies lying beneath layers of rubble as lasagna all beneath the heading “Earthquake Italian style”.

The image which is being circulated on social media has attracted huge criticism globally and in Italy it has made the pages of Italian national newspapers La Stampa and Corriere della Serra.

Photo Facebook
Photo Facebook

The French embassy in Italy released a statement saying the cartoons were not representative of France’s position.

It is not the first time hashtag #CharlieHebdo has been used on social media to express outrage at one of its cartoons.

Charlie Hebdo is no stranger to criticism. In 2015 it published a controversial cartoon of the young Syrian refugee Alan Kurdi who drowned while fleeing Syria and has also posted controversial sketches of the Prophet Muhammad.

China’s Record Breaker Glass Bridge Closes After 13 Days

Nancy Clayson
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China’s Record Breaker Glass Bridge Closes After 13 Days

China’s glass-bottomed bridge that was heralded as a record-breaker when it opened two weeks ago has closed.

According to officials, the government was planning urgent maintenance work in the area and the bridge closed on September 2, with a re-opening time to be announced.

But CNN said a spokesman told them the bridge, spanning a canyon, was “overwhelmed by the volume of visitors”.

Photo YouTube
Photo YouTube

The spokesman said there had been no accidents and the bridge was not cracked or broken.

The 1411ft-long bridge, which cost $3.4 million to build, connects two mountain cliffs in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province.

The glass bridge hangs 984ft over a canyon said to have inspired the landscapes of the Avatar movie.

When it opened, it was said to be the highest and longest glass-bottomed bridge in the world.

The bridge can accommodate 8,000 visitors a day but the spokesman told CNN that 10 times as many people wanted access daily.

Officials at the park announced the closure in a post on the Chinese micro-blogging site, Weibo.

They did not mention visitor numbers but said the government urgently needed to upgrade the area.

The post on Weibo said that tour groups who had planned to see the bridge over the weekend might have “discretionary admission”.

Davao Attack: At Least 12 Killed In Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s Home City

Roy Siemens
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Davao Attack: At Least 12 Killed In Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s Home City

A bomb attack in Davao, the home city of Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte, has killed at least 12 people.

At least 60 people more were wounded in the explosion at a packed market.

According to a presidential spokesman, investigators had found shrapnel from a mortar-based improvised explosive device (IED) at the scene.

Police in Manila are on high alert following the deadly blast.Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte

The explosion took place outside the Marco Polo hotel in an area frequently visited by Rodrigo Duterte, who was in Davao at the time but was not hurt.

Footages released show broken glass and plastic chairs scattered at the scene, which has since been cordoned off by police bomb experts and investigators.

Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, the president’s eldest son, issued a statement on Facebook in which he said it was too soon to determine who was behind the attack, but insisted that “authorities are on top of this incident”.

Regional police Chief Manuel Guerlan said a ring of checkpoints had been placed around the city’s exit points.

The region has been under a heightened security alert in recent weeks because of a military offensive against Abu Sayyaf, a jihadist group.

On August 29, at least 12 soldiers from the Philippines were killed during heavy fighting with militants in what was the deadliest day for Philippine troops since President Rodrigo Duterte was elected in May.

Rodrigo Duterte’s election has prompted a spike in drug-related killings, with more than 2,000 deaths since he took office on June 30, nearly half of them in police operations.

FBI Publishes Hillary Clinton E-Mail Report

Diane A. Wade
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FBI Publishes Hillary Clinton E-Mail Report

The FBI has released files relating to its investigation into Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s use of private email while serving as Secretary of State.

The 58 pages of notes included Hillary Clinton’s interview and details about her private server at her New York residence.

In July 2016, the FBI ended a year-long inquiry into whether Hillary Clinton broke the law by using a private server.

FBI Director James Comey did not recommend criminal charges.Hillary Clinton South Carolina victory

James Comey concluded that though Hillary Clinton and her staff had been “extremely careless” with classified information, there was no evidence that she knowingly shared sensitive material.

Hilalry Clinton has claimed that her use of private email was allowed.

According to the FBI files, Hilalry Clinton told the investigators she “did not explicitly request permission to use a private server or email address”, but that members of the State Department were aware of her use of a private address “because it was displayed to anyone with whom she exchanged emails”.

The documents also include information on how the private server was set up in the basement of Hillary Clinton’s home in Chappaqua, New York.

Though the documents, which included summaries of interviews with some Hillary Clinton staffers, offered more insight into the FBI’s investigation, large portions of the files were heavily redacted.

Questions over Hillary Clinton’s use of a private server have dogged her presidential campaign on the trail over the last year.

A spokesman for Donald Trump said the notes “reinforce her tremendously bad judgment and dishonesty”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6M67nHDmNE

Islam Karimov’s Death Officially Confirmed by Uzbek Government

Diane A. Wade
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Islam Karimov’s Death Officially Confirmed by Uzbek Government

Islam Karimov’s death has been finally confirmed by the Uzbek government, six days after he was taken to hospital with a suspected brain hemorrhage.

The Uzbek president died at the age of 78, after27 years in power.

One of Asia’s most authoritarian leaders.

Islam Karimov’s funeral will be overseen by PM Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is seen as a potential successor.

According to rights groups, Islam Karimov, one of Asia’s most authoritarian leaders, repressed opposition to his rule but for supporters he represented stability.

Islam Karimov will be buried on September 3 in his home city of Samarkand and three days of mourning will be observed.

Photo AP
Photo AP

A UN report has described the use of torture under Islam Karimov as “systematic”.

Islam Karimov often justified his strong-arm tactics by highlighting the danger from Islamist militancy in the mainly Muslim country, which borders Afghanistan.

Expressing his condolences in a statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin described Islam Karimov as a statesman “who had contributed to the security and stability of Central Asia” and who would be a “great loss for the people of Uzbekistan”.

Vladimir Putin addressed his message to Uzbek senate leader Nigmatulla Yuldashev who, under the constitution, becomes acting president pending early elections.

Nigmatulla Yuldashev is unlikely to fill the presidential role more permanently, analysts say.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been in office since 2003 and his deputy, Rustam Azimov, is also seen as a key player.

News of Islam Karimov’s death was finally confirmed after several foreign leaders and diplomatic sources reported it on September 2, following days of rumors that he had already died.

A state TV presenter said on September 2 in the evening: “Dear compatriots, it is with an immense pain in our hearts that we inform you of the death of our dear president.”

One of Islam Karimov’s daughters, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, posted a black square on Instagram with the words: “He left us… I choose my words and cannot believe it myself…”

Earlier on Friday, Turkish PM Binali Yildirim broke news of the death at a televised meeting of his cabinet.

Reports from diplomatic sources suggested several regional leaders were making plans to visit Samarkand for Islam Karimov’s funeral.

Russia’s PM Dmitry Medvedev is expected to represent his country.

Hurricane Hermine Kills at Least One Person in Florida

Nancy Clayson
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Hurricane Hermine Kills at Least One Person in Florida

Hurricane Hermine has killed at least one person in Florida and caused severe damage along the state’s northern Gulf Coast.

Hermine is the first hurricane to hit Florida in eleven years.

As the storm pushed into Georgia, it knocked down power lines leaving hundreds of thousands without power.

Gusts of 80mph caused storm surges that flooded part of the coast.

Photo NASA
Photo NASA

In Cedar Key, waters rose more than 9.5ft, among the highest surges ever seen, according to the National Weather Service.

After making landfall on September 2 in the morning, Hurricane Hermine swept through Florida and, weakening to a tropical storm, is now making its way towards South Carolina.

A tropical storm warning was issued for parts of New Jersey, Connecticut and New York City, the National Hurricane Center said.

The US Coast Guard also warned boaters and swimmers along the New York and New Jersey coasts to use caution in what is expected to be rough surf and hazardous rip currents this weekend.

Police in Taylor County, Florida, that has a population of more than 20,000, said the storm had inflicted “severe damage”.

In Tallahassee, where people were urged to move to higher ground to avoid flash floods, at least 70,000 homes were without power at one point, affecting 60% of people in the region.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott had earlier declared a state of emergency for 51 counties across the state.

According to weather officials, Hurricane Hermine could bring heavy rains along the East Coast in the coming days.

In Georgia, Gov. Nathan Deal also declared a state of emergency, for 56 counties, but the state was spared the havoc it had expected.

“We’re having a bit of a sigh of relief,” said Jim Butterworth, director of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.

However, 107,000 customers were reported to be without power across the state as crews worked to repair damage.

Some models show that Hurricane Hermine will stall near the New Jersey coast next week, potentially bringing prolonged heavy rain to the area.

Islam Karimov’s Death Announced by Turkey

Diane A. Wade
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Islam Karimov’s Death Announced by Turkey

Turkey has announced that Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov has died at the age of 78.

There is no official Uzbek confirmation of the president’s death, but the state TV channels have dropped light entertainment programs.

One of Asia’s most authoritarian leaders, Islam Karimov was in power since 1989.

He was taken to hospital last week after a brain hemorrhage but the government has only said he is critically ill.

There were conflicting reports about Islam Karimov’s death on Russian news agencies on September 2.Islam Karimov Uzbekistan elections 2015

Interfax quoted the Uzbek government as confirming the death only for Ria-Novosti to quote the Uzbek government press service as denying it had issued any statement.

Unnamed diplomatic sources in several countries have also announced Islam Karimov’s death, and even funeral plans, to news agencies.

Reuters quoted three such sources while Associated Press cited an unnamed Afghan official as saying President Ashraf Ghani planned to attend Islam Karimov’s funeral on September 3.

An unnamed Kyrgyz diplomat told AP the country’s prime minister had also been invited to the funeral.

Islam Karimov has no clear successor. There is no legal political opposition and the media are tightly controlled by the state.

A UN report has described the use of torture in Uzbekistan as “systematic”.

Islam Karimov often justified his strong-arm tactics by highlighting the danger from Islamist militancy in the mainly Muslim country, which borders Afghanistan.

On September 2, Turkish PM Binali Yildirim told a televised meeting Islam Karimov had died.

“Uzbek President Islam Karimov has passed away,” Binali Yildirim said in a cabinet meeting broadcast live.

“May God’s mercy be upon him, as the Turkish Republic we are sharing the pain and sorrow of Uzbek people.”

Australia Issues Its First Ever Tactile Banknote After Blind Boy Campaign

Nancy Clayson
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Australia Issues Its First Ever Tactile Banknote After Blind Boy Campaign

The Reserve Bank of Australia has issued its first ever tactile banknote on September 1 after a campaign by a blind boy.

Three years ago, 12-year-old Connor McLeod filed a discrimination complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission and started an online petition with his mother which received more than 56,000 supporters.

The A$5 note goes into circulation with a tiny new feature designed to help people who are blind or visually impaired.

Photo news.com.au
Photo news.com.au

It has two raised dots on both of its long sides, allowing those who cannot see to identify its value, ABC reports.

It is Australia’s first note to feature the tactile markings, and is being hailed as a major breakthrough.

Bruce Maguire from the non-profit Vision Australia organization said: “For the first time in the history of Australian currency it will be possible for someone who is blind or vision-impaired to just pick up a note and know instantly what it is.”

He says the change will help 360,000 Australians.

Currently, blind or visually impaired people have to rely on others to identify the note and give the correct change. Some use a measuring instrument – which ABC News notes can be fiddly in a busy shop – or smart phone apps.

Connor McLeod, now 15, wrote on the news.co.au website: “Now when I grow up, I won’t have to rely on trusting that people have always given me the right change.

“I can feel the markings on the bank notes and tell them if they’ve given me the wrong change and also think to myself: I did that.”

Connor McLeod came up with the idea after receiving some money for Christmas when he was 11, “but had no idea how much it was and how generous or tight-arse the present-giver had been,” he said on September 1.

Samsung Recalls Galaxy Note 7 over Exploding Battery Issue

Nancy Clayson
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Samsung Recalls Galaxy Note 7 over Exploding Battery Issue

Samsung Electronics has decided to recall its flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphone saying that battery problems were behind phones catching fire.

According to US and South Korea reports, the phone “exploded” during or after charging.

Samsung said customers who already bought Galaxy Note 7 will be able to swap it for a new one.

The recall comes just one week ahead of Apple’s expected presentation of a new iPhone model.

Photo Samsung
Photo Samsung

Samsung’s mobile business president Koh Dong-jin told reporters: “We have received several reports of battery explosion on the Note 7 that and it has been confirmed that it was a battery cell problem.”

The South Korean company said it would take about two weeks to prepare replacement devices.

According to Samsung, the Galaxy Note 7 has been launched in 10 countries so far but with different companies supplying the batteries.

Over the past days, several users had reported their phones caught fire or exploded while charging, and Samsung said it had confirmed 35 such cases.

The Galaxy Note 7 was only launched on August 19 and has since them been generally well-received by critics and consumers.

The model is the latest of Samsungs’ series of so called phablets – smartphones with very large screens and, in the case of Samsung, featuring a stylus.

Samsung also added an iris scanner to the Note 7, which lets users unlock the phone by detecting patterns in the eyes.

Hurricane Hermine Hits Northern Florida

Nancy Clayson
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Hurricane Hermine Hits Northern Florida

Hurricane Hermine has become the first to hit Florida in 11 years.

Hermine has made landfall in northern Florida early on September 2 as a Category one hurricane, bringing with it a heavy storm surge.

Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for 51 counties as residents were braced for the dangerous storm.

Wind gusts reached 80mph on September 1, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

City officials in the state capital Tallahassee, which is in the path of the storm, said at least 70,000 homes were now without power.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

Tallahassee weather officials warned of the risk of flash floods and urged people there to move to higher ground, but winds have now started to reduce as the storm moves inland.

While the area is prone to storms and storm surges, it has not seen a hurricane in close to 4,000 days.

The last hurricane to strike Florida was Wilma in October 2005, which made landfall in the same year as Katrina and caused five deaths and an estimated $23 billion of damage.

Gov. Rick Scott said: “This is life threatening. We have not had a hurricane in years.”

He added that 8,000 members of the Florida National Guard were prepared to be deployed in the wake of the storm.

Rick Scott ordered evacuations in five counties in Florida’s north-west and called for voluntary evacuations in three other coastal counties.

St Petersburg was littered with downed palm fronds and tree branches, and low-lying streets were flooded.

According to weather officials, Hurricane Hermine will also hit Georgia and the Carolinas, and could bring heavy rains along the East Coast in the coming days.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency for 56 counties.

Melania Trump Sues Webster Tarpley and Daily Mail over Escort Claims

Diane A. Wade
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Melania Trump Sues Webster Tarpley and Daily Mail over Escort Claims

Donald Trump’s wife, Melania, is officially suing Daily Mail and blogger Webster Tarpley for $150 million over allegations she was an escort in the 1990s, her lawyer says.

The Daily Mail suggested Melania Trump may have worked as a part-time escort in New York, and met her future husband earlier than previously reported.

The claims were “outright lying”, lawyer Charles Harder said.

Both the Daily Mail and Webster Tarpley have since retracted their articles.

Charles Harder said in a statement: “These defendants made several statements about Mrs. Trump that are 100% false and tremendously damaging to her personal and professional reputation.

“Defendants’ actions are so egregious, malicious and harmful to Mrs. Trump that her damages are estimated at $150 million.”

Photo Flickr Marc Nozell
Photo Flickr Marc Nozell

Charles Harder has filed the complaint before the Circuit Court for Montgomery County in Maryland.

Melania Trump, 46, was born in Slovenia and moved to the United States to work as a model in the 1990s. She married Donald Trump in 2005.

Webster Tarpley had written that Melania Trump feared her past becoming public.

The Daily Mail article quoted claims published in Slovenian magazine Suzy that the modeling agency Melania Trump was working for also functioned as an escort agency, court papers show.

The British newspaper also quoted Slovenian journalist Bojan Pozar, author of an unauthorized biography, who claimed Melania met Donald Trump in 1995, three years before their reported first meeting in 1998.

Melania Trump’s lawyers say she moved to the United States in 1996.

Webster Tarpley meanwhile alleged that Melania Trump was “reportedly obsessed by fear of salacious revelations by wealthy clients from her time as a high-end escort” and had suffered a “full-blown nervous breakdown”.

The Daily Mail‘s retraction, published late on September 1, insisted it had not suggested the escort claims were true but said that, even if false, they could affect the US presidential campaign.

In July, Melania Trump was embroiled in a row over plagiarism, after her speech at the Republican convention. Lines matched almost word for word those delivered by Michelle Obama at the Democrats’ convention in 2008.

Venezuela: Rival Demonstrations Held In Caracas

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela: Rival Demonstrations Held In Caracas

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took part in rival marches in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Anti-government protesters called for President Nicolas Maduro’s removal.

Opposition blames Nicolas Maduro for the country’s economic crisis and accuse the electoral commission of delaying a referendum that could shorten his stay in power.

The president, whose supporters also rallied in huge numbers, accused the opposition of trying to stage a coup.

The government said the opposition had failed to attract the one million people they were expecting in their march, in what the authorities dubbed the “Takeover of Caracas”.Nicolas Maduro imposes visas for Americans

Nicolas Maduro said at a rally in central Caracas: “The nation has triumphed. They wanted to intimidate the people but the people are here.

“We have defeated an attempted coup that tried to fill Venezuela and Caracas with violence, death.”

Opposition leaders said their protest had gathered at least their anticipated one million people.

Opposition politician Jesus Torrealba said: “We have shown to the world the importance of Venezuela and how much it wants change.”

Protesters said they had enough of the policies of the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

A small group of protesters clashed with riot police as the peaceful rally ended.

In the run-up to the march, a number of opposition politicians were detained.

The opposition hopes the march will pressure the electoral authorities into allowing them to launch the second petition needed to trigger Nicolas Maduro’s recall referendum as soon as possible.

Guccifer Sentenced to Four Years in Jail

Nancy Clayson
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Guccifer Sentenced to Four Years in Jail

Romanian hacker Marcel Lazar, known as Guccifer, has been sentenced to 4 years and 4 months in jail in the United States.

Guccifer, who targeted high-profile US politicians, pleaded guilty in May on charges of aggravated identify theft and unauthorized access of a computer.

Among targeted politicians are former Secretary of State Colin Powell and the Bush family.

Marcel Lazar, 44, was arrested on hacking charges in Romania in 2014.

He was extradited to the US to face charges in March 2016.Hillary Clinton on Brussels attacks

Guccifer inadvertently uncovered Hillary Clinton’s private email account in 2013 after hacking the account of her former political adviser, Sidney Blumenthal.

Two years later, it was revealed that Hillary Clinton exclusively used her personal account, which was connected to a private server at her New York residence, while serving as secretary of state.

Hillary Clinton’s use of private email while at the State Department became the subject of an FBI investigation and has dogged her on the campaign trail.

Earlier this year Guccifer claimed he had hacked into Hillary Clinton’s private server, but the Clinton campaign has denied there was any such breach.

The FBI also has said there is no evidence to prove Marcel Lazar had hacked her.

Guccifer, a former taxi driver in Romania, is believed to have hacked into about 100 US email accounts between 2012 and 2014.

In June 2016, a hacker who goes by the alias “Guccifer 2.0” claimed data breaches on the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

US intelligence officials have said they believe Guccifer 2.0 is linked to Russian intelligence services, suggesting that the hack was state-sponsored.

There is no known connection between Marcel Lazar and Guccifer 2.0.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTMFdX_Brds

Burkini Ban Lifted in Nice After National Court Ruling

Diane A. Wade
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0
Burkini Ban Lifted in Nice After National Court Ruling

The controversial ban on burkinis has been lifted in Nice – the latest French seaside resort to do so, in line with a national court ruling.

Bans on the women’s full-body swimsuits have also been lifted in Villeneuve-Loubet, Cannes, Frejus and Roquebrune.

French Riviera mayors imposed the bans, but they were overruled on August 26 by France’s top administrative court.

Critics see burkinis as a symbol of Islam and potentially provocative after the July terror atrocity in Nice.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

On August 26, France’s Council of State ruled that the ban in Villeneuve-Loubet “seriously and clearly illegally breached fundamental freedoms”.

The human rights lawyer who brought that case said he would take each town to court over their burkini bans.

The Collective against Islamophobia in France (CCIF) and the Human Rights League (LDH) challenged the Villeneuve-Loubet ban, turning it into a test case.

In recent days courts in several French Riviera resorts have annulled their bans – even though local mayors had vowed to keep them in place.

Two beach resorts in Corsica – Sisco and Ghisonaccia – still have bans in place.

France’s PM Manuel Valls wrote in support of the bans, saying burkinis were “the affirmation of political Islam in the public space”.

Burkinis were not mentioned by name in the bans, with the order simply saying beachwear must be respectful of good public manners and the principle of secularism.

French authorities had said that they were concerned about the public order implications of the religious clothing, especially after the attacks in Nice and Paris carried out by people influenced by Islamist extremism.

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