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Super Tuesday 2016: Donald Trump Loses to John Kasich in Ohio

Diane A. Wade
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Super Tuesday 2016: Donald Trump Loses to John Kasich in Ohio

Donald Trump has won a decisive victory in the key state of Florida but lost to John Kasich in Ohio.

In the Democratic field, Hillary Clinton extended her lead with wins in Florida, Ohio, Illinois and North Carolina.

Meanwhile, Marco Rubio dropped out of the Republican race after losing in his home state of Florida to Donald Trump.

Donald Trump has also won in Illinois and North Carolina.

The billionaire’s victories cause a headache for the Republican Party because many senior members are concerned by his policies and tone.Donald Trump loses Ohio primary

Donald Trump will need just over half of the hundreds of delegates remaining to win a majority in the Republican race and assure him of the nomination.

Five big states on Tuesday chose their preferred candidate for November’s presidential election.

The winners for both parties in Missouri are yet to be called with Hillary Clinton locked in tight competition with challenger Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump fighting Ted Cruz.

“We have to bring our party together,” Donald Trump said in Palm Beach, Florida, as the results came in on Tuesday evening.

However, John Kasich secured his first win in the Republican contest in the state of Ohio where he is governor.

In his victory speech, John Kasich said he wanted to create a “climate of opportunity” for future generations and praised the campaign of Marco Rubio.

Earlier Marco Rubio announced he was suspending his campaign on stage in Miami.

He said the US was in the middle of a “political storm”, and voters were angry and frustrated.

In Florida, Hillary Clinton gave an upbeat victory speech in which she chastised Donald Trump and said “Americans were hungry for solutions”.

She listed student debt, affordable childcare and inequality as issues she pledged to address.

Florida and Ohio are particularly important in the race for the Republican nomination because the winning candidate gets all of the delegates on offer – 99 in Florida and 66 in Ohio.

Those delegates go to the national convention in July where the presidential nominee will be chosen.

However, Donald Trump’s latest victories come amid increasing condemnation of his campaign within the Republican Party, and after a string of violent incidents at his rallies.

Some senior Republicans have said they would never support him, and on March 15 it emerged that a group of leading conservatives are planning ways of stopping Donald Trump from winning the Republican nomination – including rallying around a third-party candidate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmg-TMVYUcc

Indiana Jones 5 to Be Released in July 2019

Sonia Pantiss
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Indiana Jones 5 to Be Released in July 2019

A fifth Indiana Jones movie will be released in July 2019, The Walt Disney Company has announced.

The as-yet-untitled film will come 11 years after the most recent Indiana Jones movie, 2008’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg are teaming up for the new movie.

They first worked together on Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, in 1981.Indiana Jones 5 release date

Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall are to produce the new film.

In the first outing, archaeologist Indiana Jones raced around the world to find the Ark of the Covenant before it fell into the hands of the Nazis.

It was followed three years later by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade coming in 1989.

Harrison Ford, also known for his work as Han Solo in the Star Wars movies, will be 77 when the new installment arrives in cinemas.

The first four movies have made nearly $2 billion at the box office so far.

Mother Teresa to Be Declared Saint on September 4

Diane A. Wade
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Mother Teresa to Be Declared Saint on September 4

Mother Teresa is to be declared a saint on September 4, Pope Francis has announced.

The Roman Catholic nun who worked with the poor in the Indian city of Kolkata (Calcutta) founded a sisterhood that runs 19 homes, and won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mother Teresa died in 1997 – aged 87 – and was beatified in 2003, the first step to sainthood.

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

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

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

At age of 19, Agnese Gonxha Bojaxhiu 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, Mother Teresa moved to Kolkata to help the destitute and, after a decade, set up a hospice and a home for abandoned children.

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

Mother Teresa 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.

Five years after her death, Pope John Paul II accepted a first miracle attributed to Mother Teresa as authentic, clearing the way for her beatification in 2003.

Pope John Paul II judged that the curing of Bengali tribal woman Monica Besra from an abdominal tumor was the result of her supernatural intervention.

A Vatican commission found that her recovery had been a miracle after the Missionaries of Charity said that the woman had been cured by a photo of the nun being placed on her stomach. The finding was criticized as bogus by rationalist groups in Bengal.

In December 2015, Pope Francis recognized a second miracle, which involved the healing of a Brazilian man with several brain tumors in 2008. The man’s identity was not disclosed but the man was said to have been cured unexpectedly after his priest prayed for Mother Teresa’s intervention with God.

It often takes decades for people to reach sainthood after their death, but beatification was rushed through by Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis was known to be keen to complete the process during the Church’s Holy Year of Mercy which runs to November 2016.

Crazy Ways Computers Are Taking Over Our Life

Dana R
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Crazy Ways Computers Are Taking Over Our Life

The computer is an iconic piece of technology that revolutionised the world. Sometimes, we take it for granted and don’t realise how much has changed because of computers. Today, I look at some of the ways computers have changed and taken over our lives

Computers Are Making Us Work More Productively

The majority of people reading this will have a life dominated by work. Each day, you’ll wake up and travel to work, where you’ll stay for a fair few ours. Everyone that words has the same mantra; they want to get things done as quickly as possible. If you’re productive, then time goes faster, and you feel like you’ve accomplished more. Thankfully, computers have helped us become more productive people. All manner of work is made a lot easier thanks to computer technology. We can do things much faster than we used to be able to.

Before computers, it would take a couple of days to contact someone and write to a client. Now, we use emails that are sent instantly. Similarly, any reports would have to be written by hand. Whereas, now, you can type them up. It’s a lot quicker, meaning you can do more with your day. Productivity is immensely increased because of the emergence of computers in the last decade.

On this photo a computer mainboard manufactured by Gigabyte is visible. It features different sockets, connectors, coolers, heatpipes, the mainboard battery, DDR memory ram slots and the processor socket.

(Image Source: Pexels https://goo.gl/6k8fms)

Computers Are Helping Us Create Things

Back in the day, if you wanted something created, you had to do it with your two hands. This includes building structures, making parts for things, and everything in between. Nowadays, we have computers on hand to help us with this. There are loads of ways computers assist humans in creating and making things. If you look in any big factory, you’ll see a range of computer machinery and equipment. Things like CNC machinery, laser cutters, and 3D printers are all the rage these days. These things are all powered by computer technology and have been revolutionary. It makes it easier to create things and speeds up the creation process. You can use them to make parts for structures or create small models. There isn’t as much reliance on humans to make and produce things. Instead, there’s a massive dependency on computers and technology.

Computers Are Changing The Way We Shop

Computers have also made a huge impact on the way we shop and buy products. There used to be one way for you to purchase things. You’d go down to the shops, and buy the things you want. It could take a couple of hours walking around different shops and finding the things you wish to buy. However, thanks to computers, this has now changed. We can shop for things online and not have to leave our house. If you want to purchase something, you can go online and buy it within seconds. Then, you get it delivered to you. So, you don’t have to leave your house, you don’t have to travel anywhere, and a lot of time is saved. People do this all the time; it’s common practice in our lives today.

As you can see, computers have completely taken over our life. There are multiple things it has changed and altered the things that we do. In my eyes, our lives are dramatically improved thanks to the advancements in computer tech.

Russian Troops Start Leaving Syria

Roy Siemens
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Russian Troops Start Leaving Syria

Russian troops have started to withdraw from Syria after yesterday’s surprise announcement by President Vladimir Putin.

The first planes left Hmeimim air base in Syria on March 15, the Russian defense ministry said.

Western officials cautiously welcomed the move, saying Russian troops withdrawal could pressure Syria’s government to engage in talks.

Peace talks aimed at resolving the conflict are entering a second day.

Meanwhile, a UN commission will present a report on war crimes in Syria later.

The Russian force reduction was announced during a meeting between Vladimir Putin and his defense and foreign ministers.Russian forces leave Syria

Russia is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and his office sought to reject speculation there was a rift between the two countries, saying the move was mutually agreed.

The Russian air campaign started in September 2015, tipping the balance in favor of the Syrian government and allowing it to recapture territory from rebels.

No details have been given on how many planes and troops would be withdrawn from the Hmeimim base, in Latakia province, or a deadline for completing the pullout.

“The first group of Russian planes has flown out of the Hmeimim air base for their permanent bases on the territory of the Russian Federation,” the defense ministry statement said.

Russian TV earlier showed aircraft being refueled and crates being loaded with equipment.

Aircraft from the base would make the flight to Russia – more than 3,000 miles – in small groups each led by Il-76 or Tu-154 transport planes, the ministry added.

They would then go their separate ways to their own bases after crossing the Russian border, it said.

Su-24 tactical bombers, Su-25 attack fighters, Su-34 strike fighters and helicopters were returning home, the TV said.

It is not clear how many military personnel Russia has deployed, but US estimates suggest the number ranges from 3,000 to 6,000, AP reports.

Vladimir Putin, however, said Hmeimim and Russia’s Mediterranean naval base at Tartus would continue to operate as normal.

Russia had long insisted its bombing campaign only targeted terrorist groups but Western powers had complained the raids hit political opponents of President Assad.

In a statement, the Syrian government said the plan was agreed between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria will present its report on war crimes committed by all sides in Syria’s war to the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday in Geneva.

In a phone call, Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama discussed the situation in Syria and the “next steps required to fully implement the cessation of hostilities” agreed last month, the White House said.

The Kremlin said both “called for an intensification of the process for a political settlement” to the conflict.

The Russian move has received a guarded welcome from Western diplomats and the Syrian opposition.

An unnamed US official quoted by Reuters said Washington was encouraged by the Russian move, but it was too early to say what it means or what was behind it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-s4_h3PHsE

Htin Kyaw Becomes Myanmar’s First Civilian President in More Than 50 Years

Diane A. Wade
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Htin Kyaw Becomes Myanmar’s First Civilian President in More Than 50 Years

Htin Kyaw has become Myanmar’s first civilian president after more than 50 years of military rule.

The parliament has elected Htin Kyaw, a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, after her National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to victory in historic elections in November.

Htin Kyaw said his appointment was “Aung San Suu Kyi’s victory”.

Aung San Suu Kyi is barred from the post by the constitution, but has said she will lead the country anyway.

Htin Kyaw won with 360 of the 652 votes cast in the two houses of parliament, with lawmakers erupting into applause when the result was announced.

“Victory! This is sister Aung San Suu Kyi’s victory. Thank you,” Htin Kyaw said after winning.

In second place was Myint Swe, who was nominated by the military and received 213 votes.

Photo AP
Photo AP

A close ally of former junta leader Than Shwe, Myint Swe is seen as a hardliner.

Myint Swe was followed by Htin Kyaw’s running mate and ethnic Chin candidate Henry Van Thio, who got 79 votes.

They will serve as first vice-president and second vice-president respectively.

Myanmar’s president is chosen from candidates put forward by each of the two houses of parliament, in addition to a third nominee from the military.

Aung San Suu Kyi’ NLD has a huge majority in both houses of parliament, despite the military occupying 25% of seats, so the candidate it backed was all but guaranteed to win.

However, correspondents warn of increasing confrontation in parliament in the future as lawmakers push against an army determined to hold onto the powers it has under the constitution.

The army still controls key security ministries and also has the power to veto any changes to the constitution as that would require more than 75% of parliamentary votes.

Correspondents say that Htin Kyaw’s election is widely supported among the Burmese people, as he has a solid reputation and is known to be trusted by Aung San Suu Kyi.

Despite Aung San Suu Kyi’s popularity and prominence in Myanmar – also known as Burma – she could not take the presidency herself.

A clause in the constitution, widely seen as being tailored against Aung San Suu Kyi, says anyone whose children have another nationality cannot become president. Her children hold British passports.

Despite weeks of negotiation prior to the vote, the NLD were unable to persuade the military of Myanmar to remove or suspend the clause to allow Aung San Suu Kyi to take office.

Aung San Suu Kyi has previously said that she would be “above the president” anyway, ruling through a proxy.

Anders Breivik Returns to Court with Nazi Salute

Nancy Clayson
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Anders Breivik Returns to Court with Nazi Salute

Anders Behring Breivik has given a Nazi salute upon his return to court to accuse the government of violating his human rights by holding him in isolation.

The Norwegian mass murderer has compared his conditions in prison to “torture”.

Anders Breivik, 37, killed 77 people in 2011 when he bombed central Oslo before going on a shooting spree at a Labour Youth camp on the island of Utoya.

The right-wing extremist was sentenced to 21 years in prison in 2012.

Entering the court in a grey suit shortly before 09:00 Anders Breivik shook hands with his lawyers. He made the salute after police removed his handcuffs.

Anders Breivik accuses the Norwegian government of breaching two clauses of the European Convention on Human Rights.

One of the clauses guarantees the right to respect for “private and family life” and “correspondence” and the other prohibits “inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

His lawyer, Oystein Storrvik, told AFP news agency that Anders Breivik had been “very stressed due to his isolation” in Skien prison, about 60 miles south-west of the capital Oslo.

“One of his main things to do (in prison) was to study and he has stopped that now, and I feel that is a sign that isolation has been negative to his psychological health,” he said.

Authorities say Anders Breivik’s correspondence is censored to stop him setting up an “extremist network”. His visits are almost all with professionals across a glass partition.

The attorney general’s office has insisted that Anders Breivik’s prison conditions are “well within the limits of what is permitted” under the convention.

The court hearing, which is being held in the gymnasium of Skien prison, is expected to run until Friday.

Anders Breivik is expected to testify on March 16.

If the court decides that Anders Breivik’s prison conditions are so strict that they cause him harm and violate his human rights, it could order an easing of restrictions.

In September 2015, Anders Breivik threatened to starve himself to death in protest at his treatment in prison.

His cell at Skien prison has a TV and computer but he has no access to the internet.

In a letter to media outlets in Norway and Sweden, Anders Breivik said he was kept in almost total isolation, with time outside his cell limited to one hour a day.

The mass murderer said the harsh prison conditions had forced him to drop out of a political science course at the University of Oslo.

Anders Breivik was first held at Ila Detention and Security Prison near Oslo before being moved to Skien in 2013.

At Ila, he also complained of being held in “inhumane” conditions.

In a letter to prison authorities, Anders Breivik said his cell was poorly decorated and had no view.

Anders Breivik also complained that his coffee was served cold, he did not have enough butter for his bread, and he was not allowed moisturizer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsE9HNNGCm8

ISIS Commander Omar Shishani Killed in US Airstrike in Syria

Roy Siemens
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ISIS Commander Omar Shishani Killed in US Airstrike in Syria

Senior ISIS commander Omar Shishani died from injuries sustained in a recent US air strike in north-eastern Syria, the Pentagon has confirmed.

Earlier reports had suggested Omar Shishani, a Georgian whose real name was Tarkhan Batirashvili, may have survived the attack on a convoy.

Several of his bodyguards were killed in the same bombing.ISIS commander Omar Shishani dead

The strike took place on March 4 near the north-eastern town of Shaddadi, where Omar Shishani had reportedly been sent to bolster local ISIS forces.

On March 13, monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the ISIS leader had been “clinically dead” for several days.

In 2015, the US offered a $5 million reward for Omar Shishani.

It said he had held numerous senior military positions within the group, including “minister of war”.

Last week, the observatory’s director, Rami Abdul Rahman, quoted sources saying that Shishani had been badly wounded and had been taken to a hospital in Raqqa province where he was treated by “a jihadist doctor of European origin”.

US officials have said they believe Omar Shishani was sent to the Shaddadi area to reinforce ISIS militants following a series of military defeats.

Shaddadi was captured last month by the Syrian Arab Coalition, an alliance of Arab rebel groups which joined forces with the Kurdish YPG militia to battle ISIS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4-uLG4M3Yo

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Accepts Ministerial Role in Dilma Rousseff’s Government

Diane A. Wade
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Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Accepts Ministerial Role in Dilma Rousseff’s Government

Brazil’s ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has accepted a key ministerial role in President Dilma Rousseff’s government, media reports say.

Members of the governing Workers’ Party say Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s appointment will strengthen Dilma Rousseff’s beleaguered administration.

In becoming a minister, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will also have some legal protection.

Last week, prosecutors requested the former leader arrest in a money laundering inquiry over a luxury sea-front penthouse.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has denied any wrongdoing and says the claims are politically motivated.Dilma Rousseff and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

The reports, quoting unnamed sources, said Dilma Rousseff and the former president would meet in Brasilia on March 15. There has been no official comment.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva handpicked Dilma Rousseff as a candidate to succeed him in 2010, and has not ruled out running again in 2018.

Dilma Rousseff has faced increasing calls for her removal as a result of a corruption scandal at the state oil company Petrobras and Brazil’s worst recession in decades.

On March 13, hundreds of thousands of Brazilians took to the streets calling for her to go. But the president has repeatedly said she will not resign.

Dilma Rousseff could, however, face an impeachment process in Congress, accused of masking the budget deficit, which she denies.

One of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s main tasks, the reports said, would be to negotiate with the main coalition partner in order to prevent an impeachment going ahead.

His appointment could also be seen as bringing some order to what many analysts consider a chaotic administration.

As a minister, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva could only be tried in the Supreme Court, placing him out of the reach of the judge in the southern city of Curitiba responsible for the Petrobras investigation.

Vladimir Putin Orders Russian Troops Withdrawal from Syria

Roy Siemens
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Vladimir Putin Orders Russian Troops Withdrawal from Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin has surprisingly ordered his troops to start withdrawing the “main part” of its forces in Syria from March 15.

Vladimir Putin said the Russian intervention had largely achieved its objectives.

The comments come amid fresh peace talks in Geneva aimed at resolving the five-year Syrian conflict.

Russia is a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad and his office said in a statement he had agreed to the move.

The pullout was “in accordance with the situation on the ground”, the statement said.

Russia began its campaign of air strikes in Syria in September 15, tipping the balance in favor of the Syrian government and allowing it to recapture territory from rebels.Vladimir Putin orders Russian troops withdrawal from Syria

“I consider the mission set for the defense ministry and the armed forces on the whole has been accomplished,” Vladimir Putin said in a meeting at the Kremlin.

“I am therefore ordering the defense ministry to begin the withdrawal of the main part of our military force from the Syrian Arab Republic from tomorrow.”

Vladimir Putin said that Russia’s Hmeimim air base in Latakia province and its Mediterranean naval base at Tartus would continue to operate as normal. He said both must be protected “from land, air and sea”.

Syria’s opposition cautiously welcomed the Russian announcement.

“If there is seriousness in implementing the withdrawal, it will give the [peace] talks a positive push,” said Salim al-Muslat, spokesman for the opposition umbrella group, the High Negotiations Committee.

The US also gave a guarded response.

“We will have to see exactly what Russia’s intentions are,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

Separately, US officials quoted by Reuters said Washington had received no advance warning of Vladimir Putin’s statement.

Speaking in October 2015, Vladimir Putin said Russia aimed to “stabilize the legitimate authority” of President Bashar al-Assad by intervening and “create conditions for a political compromise”.

Russia has long insisted its bombing campaign only targets terrorist groups but Western powers have complained the raids hit political opponents of President Bashar al-Assad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rCwhYshgw8

Todd Palin Injured in Snowmobile Crash in Alaska

Nancy Clayson
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Todd Palin Injured in Snowmobile Crash in Alaska

Sarah Palin’s husband, Todd Palin, has been injured in a snowmobile crash in Alaska.

The former Republican vice-presidential candidate had canceled an appearance at a campaign event for Donald Trump in Florida.

However, Sarah Palin appeared at the event on March 14, citing “real life issues that happen” as a reason to back Donald Trump.

In January Sarah Palin endorsed Donald Trump in the race to be Republican presidential candidate.

A statement from the Trump campaign described the accident as “bad” and said Todd Palin was in hospital.

A former governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin retired in favor of a media career, but remains an influential conservative voice.

Photo Facebook
Photo Facebook

On March, Republicans and Democrats vote in primaries in several states including Florida and Ohio.

Sarah Palin made appearances on Donald Trump’s behalf at two events on March 13.

“Governor Palin wishes her best to Mr. Trump in the upcoming primaries,” the Trump campaign said.

Sarah Palin wrote on her Facebook page: “Todd is our rock… toughest guy I know. Thank you for your prayers as he recovers following a snowmachine accident last night. You know, your prayers have meant so much to our family over the years and I’ve not thanked you enough for providing us that shield of faith. God bless you, too!

As any adventurous Alaskan knows, while you may be down, you’re never out. I remember Chris Kyle summed up Todd best – “He’s Rambo. Straight up Rambo!” On the cross country flights taking me back home now, I’m thinking of all of you, and sincerely appreciating your support.

It was an honor to be with so many patriotic Floridians the past two days; you remind me that when “life happens” and we face challenges as individuals and a nation, it’s the strength in unity and a strong faith that let us overcome. Stay strong! ??????

Love,
The Palins”

Eurozone Industrial Production Grows at Highest Rate since 2009

Clyde K. Valle
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Eurozone Industrial Production Grows at Highest Rate since 2009

Eurozone industrial output grew at its highest rate in more than six years during January 2016, driven by a sharp increase in output from Ireland.

Production rose by 2.1% across the 19-member euro area, reversing negative readings in December and November 2015.

It is the highest monthly rise since September 2009, when monthly output jumped 2.3%.Eurozone industrial production 2016

Ireland recorded the biggest increase in production, which rose 12.7% in January 2016 compared with December 2015.

Growth was also boosted by a sharp rise in capital goods, such as equipment and machinery, which are an indicator of future industrial investments.

However, while the rise was above expectations of a 1.7% month-on-month increase, analysts warned that growth might not be sustained at these levels.

In February, manufacturing activity was subdued within Germany and France, the eurozone’s biggest economies.

On an annual basis, industrial output rose by 2.8% compared with January 2015. It was the largest annual percentage increase since August 2011.

Ankara Attack: Turkey Begins Security Operations Against PKK

Roy Siemens
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Ankara Attack: Turkey Begins Security Operations Against PKK

Turkish authorities have begun security operations against the PKK members in south-eastern Turkey and in Iraq.

The moves come as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed a crackdown on terror after March 13 attack in Ankara that killed at least 36 people.

A suspected bomber, who also died in the blast, was a female member of the PKK, security sources said.

Four people were held over the bombings in the south-eastern city of Sanliurfa, according to Turkish media.

Officials were quoted as saying the car used in the bombing was traced to a showroom there.Ankara bomb attack March 2016

A curfew was declared in three towns in south-east Turkey, while warplanes struck PKK camps in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Eleven warplanes carried out air strikes on 18 targets including ammunition dumps and shelters in the Qandil and Gara sectors, the army said. The PKK (the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party) confirmed the attacks.

Meanwhile curfews have been imposed in two mainly Kurdish towns in south-eastern Turkey, Yuksekova and Nusaybin, as security operations are carried out against Kurdish militants, Anadolu news agency reports.

Another curfew is due to start in the city of Sirnak at 23:00 local time.

No group has admitted carrying out the Ankara attack, but government sources have cast suspicion on the PKK.

Interior Minister Efkan Ala said an investigation would conclude on March 14 and those responsible would be named.

Unnamed officials said the female bomber was a member of the PKK from the eastern town of Kars who joined the group in 2013.

Kurdish rebels have carried out a series of attacks on Turkish soil in recent months, and security forces have raided Kurdish areas, after a ceasefire ended last year. ISIS has also targeted Ankara recently.

Turkey is part of the US-led coalition against IS and allows coalition planes to use its air base at Incirlik for raids on Iraq and Syria.

The country has also been carrying out a campaign of bombardment against Syrian Kurdish fighters of the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which it regards as a extension of the PKK.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a statement that terror groups were targeting civilians because they were losing the battle against Turkish security forces.

Calling for national unity, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would use its right to self-defense to prevent future attacks.

China’s Anbang Buys Strategic Hotels and Resorts for $6.5 Billion

Clyde K. Valle
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China’s Anbang Buys Strategic Hotels and Resorts for $6.5 Billion

China’s Anbang has agreed to buy Strategic Hotels & Resorts from private equity giant Blackstone for $6.5 billion.

Strategic Hotels and Resorts owns 18 luxury hotels, 17 of which are located in the United States and one of which is in Germany.

Blackstone is selling Strategic Hotels & Resorts, which owns 16 properties, just three months after buying the company themselves.

The luxury hotels chain includes the Four Seasons resorts in Arizona and Wyoming.

The deal marks the biggest US property purchase by a mainland Chinese buyer.Anbang buys Strategic Hotels and Resorts

Chinese companies have been buying overseas assets despite the slowing economy.

Mainland investors have been snapping up prime US properties and other overseas assets to diversify their holdings amid concerns about weakness in China’s economy.

Anbang bought New York’s famous Waldorf-Astoria from Blackstone for a record $1.95 billion in 2015.

The Beijing-based company also owns office buildings in New York and Canada and a South Korean insurance company.

It tried to buy Portuguese bank Novo Banco in 2015, but that fell through because of political objections over the sale of a systemically important European lender.

In 2015, Chinese outbound acquisitions hit a record $108 billion, according to data provider Dealogic.

However, that amount is on track to be overtaken, given that more than $84 billion in deals have already been made so far this year, including the $43 billion purchase of Swiss agri-firm Syngenta by ChemChina.

Thailand: Eight People Killed in Siam Commercial Bank Toxic Leak

Diane A. Wade
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Thailand: Eight People Killed in Siam Commercial Bank Toxic Leak

A chemical accident in the basement of the Bangkok’s Siam Commercial Bank has killed eight people, Thai officials have confirmed.

The contractors were working on a fire safety system at the headquarters of the bank on March 13, the bank said in a statement.

The workers apparently suffocated after a gas mixture which depletes oxygen was released.

Another seven were injured in the incident, which may have been caused by contractors’ “negligence”, the bank’s statement added.

The incident took place in a vault storing documents in the head office in Bangkok.Siam Commercial Bank toxic leak

The Siam Commercial Bank said at around 21:30 local time on March 13, an aerosol system called pyrogen was “inadvertently activated and exhausted all the oxygen in the area” as contractors were working on it.

Pyrogen involves a mixture of gases including potassium carbonates, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and ammonia.

The system works by removing all oxygen from the air to stifle a fire.

According to the Bangkok Post, that firemen encountered delays as they tried to reach the victims due to tightly locked doors.

The Siam Commercial Bank, one of Thailand’s largest financial institutions, added that it would provide assistance to those in the accident and operations would continue normally.

Correspondents say that fatal industrial accidents remain rare in Thailand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU17lBw1fsw

Star Wars: Oscar Isaac Reads out Obi Wan Kenobi Letter from 1977

Sonia Pantiss
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Star Wars: Oscar Isaac Reads out Obi Wan Kenobi Letter from 1977

Star Wars actor Oscar Isaac has read a letter by Alec Guinness letter at a performance in London.

In the letter, Alec Guinness branded co-star Harrison Ford a “languid young man”.

Writing during filming of the 1977 movie Star Wars: A New Hope, actor Alec Guinness, who played Obi Wan Kenobi, said: “Can’t say I’m enjoying the film.”

The letter from the late actor talks about the movie’s “rubbish dialogue”.

Oscar Isaac, who plays Poe Dameron in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, was at Letters Live at Freemasons’ Hall in London.

Alec Guinness wrote to his friend Anne Kauffman: “New rubbish dialogue reaches me every other day on wadges of pink paper, and none of it makes my character clear or even bearable.”

The actor said he was working with “Mark Hamill and Tennyson (that can’t be right) Ford. Ellison? No! Well a rangy, languid man who is probably intelligent and amusing”.Oscar Isaac and Alec Guinness letter

Letters Live sees actors and performers reading out literary correspondence to a live audience.

Actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Louise Brearley also took part, along with theater and opera director Sophie Hunter.

Benedict Cumberbatch read out a letter by American author Mark Twain to the American poet Walt Whitman, which paid tribute to all the changes he had witnessed in the world over the course of his lifetime.

Louise Brearley and Benedict Cumberbatch then performed letters between Bessie Moore and Chris Barker, two sweethearts separated by World War Two.

Sophie Hunter read out a letter from deaf and blind woman Helen Keller to the New York Symphony Orchestra, thanking them for the music which she had experienced through the radio by feeling the vibrations.

Jesse Hughes Apologizes for Bataclan Security Guards Comments

Sonia Pantiss
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Jesse Hughes Apologizes for Bataclan Security Guards Comments

Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes has apologized for suggesting some Bataclan theater security guards may have known in advance about the Paris venue being attacked last November.

The EODM were mid-performance on November 13 when four Islamist militants shot and killed 90 fans.

In a Facebook post, Jesse Hughes apologized for his comments on Fox News last week about six security guards who were not at work on the night of the attack.

The singer said he made “absurd accusations”.

Speaking to Fox News on March 9, Jesse Hughes said he had learned that some guards did not come to work that night and “it seems rather obvious that they had a reason not to show up”.

The Bataclan’s owners were quick to dispute this, saying Jesse Hughes had made “grave and defamatory accusations”.

Photo Facebook
Photo Facebook

Their statement said that a judicial investigation was under way and that “we wish to let justice proceed serenely”.

“All the testimonies gathered to this day demonstrate the professionalism and courage of the security agents who were on the ground on November 13. Hundreds of people were saved thanks to (these agents’) intervention,” they added.

Jesse Hughes responded on March 11, saying: “I humbly beg forgiveness from the people of France, the staff and security of the Bataclan, my fans, my family, friends and anyone else hurt or offended by the absurd accusations I made in my Fox Business Channel interview.”

The singer said his comments were “unfounded and baseless” and that he had been struggling with dealing with the trauma of the massacre. The raid on the concert was one of seven co-ordinated attacks across Paris, killing 130 people.

“I’ve been dealing with non-stop nightmares and struggling through therapy to make sense of this tragedy and insanity,” Jesse Hughes said.

“I haven’t been myself since November 13. I realize there’s no excuse for my words, but for what it’s worth: I am sincerely sorry for having hurt, disrespected or accused anyone.”

The members of the Californian rock band escaped the carnage by hiding in a dressing room backstage and later told how they wanted to return to Paris to finish their performance.

Eagles of Death Metal returned to Paris three months later to finish the gig at another venue, the Olympia, after receiving “overwhelming” support.

The Bataclan survivors were all invited and many attended amid tight security. The show included a silence in memory of the victims.

Lee Se-dol Wins First Match Against AlphaGo

Nancy Clayson
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Lee Se-dol Wins First Match Against AlphaGo

South Korean Go master Lee Se-dol has won his first match against Google’s AlphaGo program, after losing three in a row in a best-of-five competition in Seoul.

Lee Se-dol, one of the world’s top Go players, said his win against AlphaGo was “invaluable”.

Go is considered to be a much more complex challenge for a computer than chess, and AlphaGo’s wins were seen as a landmark moment for artificial intelligence.

A fifth game will be played on March 15.

Go is a game of two players who take turns putting black or white stones on a 19-by-19 grid. Players win by surrounding their opponents’ pieces with their own.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Commentator Michael Redmond said AlphaGo had been playing well up until the middle of the game, but at move 78, Lee Se-dol played brilliantly.

Speaking after his victory, Lee Se-dol said: “I’ve never been congratulated so much because I’ve won one game.”

Google representatives said the defeat was “very valuable” for AlphaGo, as it identified a problem which they could now try to fix.

In the first game of the series, AlphaGo triumphed by a very narrow margin – Lee Se-dol had led for most of the match, but AlphaGo managed to build up a strong lead in its closing stages.

After losing the second match to Deep Mind, Lee Se-dol said he was “speechless” adding that the AlphaGo machine played a “nearly perfect game”.

In the third game commentators said that Lee Se-dol had brought his “top game” but that AlphaGo had won “in great style”.

The AlphaGo system was developed by British computer company DeepMind which was bought by Google in 2014.

Ankara Explosion: At Least 32 People Killed in Guven Park

Roy Siemens
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Ankara Explosion: At Least 32 People Killed in Guven Park

At least 32 people have been killed and more than 100 injured after a car bomb exploded in Ankara, Turkey’s health ministry has said.

The explosion happened in Guven Park in the Kizilay district, a key transport hub and commercial area.

Other vehicles at the scene were reduced to burnt-out wrecks, including at least one bus.

Last month, a bomb attack on a military convoy in Ankara killed 28 people and wounded dozens more.

According to the Hurriyet newspaper, the latest blast happened at about 18:40 local time and the area was evacuated in case of a second attack. Many ambulances were at the scene, it added.Ankara explosion Guven Park

No group has yet claimed the attack. However, a security official told Reuters news agency that initial findings suggested it was the work of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) or an affiliated group.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said terror groups were targeting civilians because they were losing their struggle against Turkish security forces.

Recep tayyip Erdogan said such attacks “increase our determination to fight terrorism”.

Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu told a news conference that 30 people were killed at the scene and four died later in hospital, however two of the dead are believed to be the attackers. He said 125 people were being treated at several hospitals in Ankara, of whom 19 are in a critical condition.

Interior Minister Efkan Ala said the investigation would be concluded on March 14 and those behind the bombing would be named.

The ministers were speaking after an emergency security meeting called by PM Ahmet Davutoglu.

Turkey, which was the stable corner of the Middle East and the West’s crucial ally in a volatile region, is now at a dangerous moment, the prime minister adds.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the US embassy in Ankara warned its citizens on March 11 of a “potential terrorist plot” in the city.

Last month’s bombing was claimed by a Kurdish militant group, the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK). It said on its website that the attack was in retaliation for the policies of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey, however, blamed a Syrian national who was a member of another Kurdish group.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT4S_6xHq6s

Matt LeBlanc Crashes London Wedding in Latest Top Gear Stunt

Lisa.Felice
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Matt LeBlanc Crashes London Wedding in Latest Top Gear Stunt

Matt LeBlanc crashed a wedding at St Paul’s Cathedral in London while touring round the city in the latest Top Gear stunt.

The Top Gear host was joined by professional rally driver Ken Block as he spun around London in a Ford Mustang.Matt LeBlanc wedding crash London

The wedding party got a wave and a quick look in as they drove through the City of London.

The duo in Block’s 845bhp 4WD Hoonicorn Mustang took a selfie on Tower Bridge.

Matt LeBlanc also tweeted a picture of himself from Canary Wharf saying: “Canary wharf is nice.”

New series of Top Gear show is due to start in May.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgLbj_b5joE

Venezuela Protests: New Campaign to Oust President Nicolas Maduro

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela Protests: New Campaign to Oust President Nicolas Maduro

Venezuelan opposition has held a day of protests to launch a new campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro.

Crowds marched in capital Caracas and other cities to express their anger at Venezuela’s economic crisis and called on the president to stand down.

Nicolas Maduro led a protest in Caracas against the renewal of US sanctions on top Venezuelan officials.

The opposition has made clear it intends to use street power to force Nicolas Maduro from office.

March 12 protests marked the launch of Venezuela’s opposition coalition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD).

Last week the coalition announced it would use all options available to try to remove Nicolas Maduro, including a recall referendum and a constitutional amendment reducing the presidential term from six to four years.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

The opposition won a landslide victory in last December’s elections but it has seen its authority hamstrung by the Supreme Court which it says supports the government.

As a result, the MUD has placed special emphasis on protests as a way to put force Nicolas Maduro’s resignation.

Correspondents say this is a potentially explosive path after anti-government demonstrations in 2014 left 43 people dead. This led to the arrest of a number of opposition leaders on charges of murder and inciting violence.

Nicolas Maduro led his own rally in Caracas, ostensibly against US sanctions and what the government regards as interference in Venezuela’s affairs.

The sanctions were first put in place a year ago after a government crack-down on opposition leaders.

The protests come against the backdrop of a deep economic crisis made worse by the crash in the price of oil which long funded the Chavez and Maduro government’s spending on social welfare.

Venezuela holds the world’s largest crude reserves but its economy contracted 5.7% in 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE-M4ufKQ3o

Beirut Trash Crisis: Naameh Landfill Site Reopened after Eight Months

Diane A. Wade
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Beirut Trash Crisis: Naameh Landfill Site Reopened after Eight Months

Lebanese officials have unveiled a plan tackle the eight-month Beirut garbage crisis.

A landfill site will be temporarily opened and two new sites will be set up in a bid to end the crisis over uncollected trash in the capital.

Piles of rotting refuse in Beirut’s streets have prompted a mass anti-government movement.

Officials say the new move will solve the problem for the next four years while a permanent solution is found.

However, protesters have gathered in Beirut, threatening to paralyze the country from March 14.

The crisis began with the closure of Beirut’s main landfill site at Naameh in July 2015 with no alternative in place.

During hot summer weather, piles of rubbish grew so large that residents resorted to burning it on the streets, releasing toxic fumes.Beirut garbage crisis 2016

The trash has since piled up on beaches, in mountain forests and along river beds.

Protesters blame the crisis on political paralysis and corruption and set up a “You Stink” movement.

In 2015, many took to the streets, leading to violent clashes with police.

Information Minister Ramzi Jreij said on March 12 that the Naameh landfill would reopen for two months “to take in the rubbish that has already piled up”.

Speaking after an emergency cabinet session, Ramzi Jreij said that two other “temporary” landfills would be opened in the city’s suburbs.

During the meeting, about 3,000 demonstrators from the You Stink movement marched to central Beirut demanding a permanent solution to the crisis.

“The final warning has been sent, and we are now in a new phase. On Monday we will paralyze the country,” protest organizers said in a statement.

Earlier this month, the group posted pictures on its Facebook page of mountains of rubbish festering across Lebanon.

One video filmed by a drone showed bags of rubbish stretching for miles like a flowing river.

The footage also mocked Lebanon’s tourism ministry over a video it had commissioned on the country’s natural beauty.

Yisrael Kristal: Holocaust Survivor Named World’s Oldest Man at 112

Nancy Clayson
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Yisrael Kristal: Holocaust Survivor Named World’s Oldest Man at 112

Auschwitz death camp survivor Yisrael Kristal has become the world’s oldest man, the Guinness World Records organization says.

Yisrael Kristal was born near Zarnow in Poland in 1903 and lived through two world wars before moving to Haifa, Israel.

He was 112 years and 178 days old on 11 March, Guinness World Records says.

The previous oldest-recorded man, Yasutaro Koide of Japan, died in January aged 112 years and 312 days.

As he received his Guinness World Records certificate, Yisrael Kristal said he did not know the “secret for long life” and that he believed everything was “determined from above”.

“There have been smarter, stronger and better looking men then me who are no longer alive,” he added.Yisrael Kristal worlds oldest man

“All that is left for us to do is to keep on working as hard as we can and rebuild what is lost.”

The son of a religious scholar, Yisrael Kristal was separated from his parents during World War One. He later moved to Lodz to work in the family confectionery business.

After the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in 1939, Yisrael Kristal and his family were moved into the Lodz ghetto.

His two children died there and Yisrael Kristal and his wife Chaja Feige Frucht were sent to Auschwitz in 1944 after the ghetto was liquidated, the Jerusalem Post reports.

Yisrael Kristal’s wife was murdered in Auschwitz but he survived, performing slave labor in that and other camps. When he was found by the Allies in May 1945 he weighed just 81.5 lbs.

The sole survivor from his family, Yisrael Kristal emigrated to Israel in 1950 with his second wife and their son, where he continued to run his confectionery business until his retirement.

Yisrael Kristal’s daughter, Shula Kuperstoch, said the Holocaust had not affected her father’s beliefs.

“He is optimistic, wise, and he values what he has,” she told the Jerusalem Post.

The oldest person alive today is believed to be an American woman, Susannah Mushatt Jones, who is 115 years and 249 days.

The oldest person ever to have lived is thought to be Jeanne Calment from France, who died aged 122 years and 164 days.

Iron Maiden’s Plane Badly Damaged in Chile, Two Injured

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Iron Maiden’s Plane Badly Damaged in Chile, Two Injured

Two people have been injured after Iron Maiden’s plane, known as Ed Force One, was damaged at an Airport in Santiago, Chile.

The band explained on their website that they hope their gigs in Argentina next week will “go ahead as planned”.

While being towed a steering pin in a tow truck fell out, meaning the famous Boeing 747 collided with a ground tug as it tried to make a turn.

Two of the ground tug operators were injured and had to be taken to hospital.

Iron Maiden say they will “closely monitor their progress”.Iron Maiden plane Ed Force One

The plane is three times the weight of the Boeing 757 used on Iron Maiden’s previous tours in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

As for the aircraft the undercarriage is reportedly badly damaged, and two new engines might be needed.

Iron Maiden’s statement continued: “Fortunately the 20 tons of equipment had not been loaded onto Ed Force One at the time of the accident.

“Although this is tragic for our beautiful plane we do not expect this to affect our concert schedule including the next 2 shows in Cordoba and Buenos Aires.

“We hope to find a new Ed Force One to continue this adventure with us in the near future.”

The band mates were keen to end on a high note, saying: “Our visit to Chile was a huge success with 58,000 fans coming to the show.

“Totally brilliant as ever in the Stadium Nacional last night. We love you guys!”

AlphaGo Beats Go Champion Lee Se-dol in Three Matches

Nancy Clayson
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0
AlphaGo Beats Go Champion Lee Se-dol in Three Matches

Google’s AlphaGo program has beaten Go champion Lee Se-dol by 3-0 in a best-of-five competition.

The match is seen as a landmark moment for artificial intelligence.

Google’s AlphaGo program was playing against Lee Se-dol in Seoul, in South Korea.

Lee Se-dol had been confident he would win before the competition started.

Go is considered to be a much more complex challenge for a computer than chess.

“AlphaGo played consistently from beginning to the end while Lee, as he is only human, showed some mental vulnerability,” one of Lee Se-dol’s former coaches, Kwon Kap-Yong, told the AFP.AlphaGo vs Lee Se dol

Lee Se-dol is considered a champion Go player, having won numerous professional tournaments in a long, successful career.

Go is a game of two players who take turns putting black or white stones on a 19-by-19 grid. Players win by surrounding their opponents pieces with their own.

In the first game of the series, AlphaGo triumphed by a very narrow margin – Lee Se-dol had led for most of the match, but AlphaGo managed to build up a strong lead in its closing stages.

After losing the second match to Deep Mind, Lee Se-dol said he was “speechless” adding that the AlphaGo machine played a “nearly perfect game”.

The two experts who provided commentary for the YouTube stream of for the third game said that it had been a complicated match to follow.

They said that Lee Se-dol had brought his “top game” but that AlphaGo had won “in great style”.

The AlphaGo system was developed by British computer company DeepMind which was bought by Google in 2014.

It has built up its expertise by studying older games and teasing out patterns of play.

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