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Romanov Family Murder Case Reopened in Russia

James J. Williams
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Romanov Family Murder Case Reopened in Russia

Russia has reopened the 1918 murder case of Tsar Nicolas II and his family, the Romanovs.

The bones of Russia’s last tsar, Nicholas II, and his wife, reburied in a St Petersburg cathedral, will be re-examined.

Revolutionary Bolsheviks killed the Romanovs in a cellar in the Urals region.

The Investigative Committee, a state body, says new checks are needed in order to verify the remains of four other Romanov family members.

The Russian Orthodox Church requested the new investigation in July – despite the fact that the murder case had been closed in 1998.

Some church members remain unconvinced that the buried remains are those of Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra.Romanovs murder case reopened 2015

The Romanovs were ousted from power and exiled in 1917, shortly before the communist Bolsheviks overthrew the provisional government.

Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra, their four daughters – grand duchesses Anastasia, Maria, Olga and Tatiana – their son, the Tsarevich Alexei and four royal staff members were murdered at a remote house in Yekaterinburg in 1918.

The remains of nine victims were found in a mass grave in 1993. But the remains of Tsarevich Alexei and Grand Duchess Maria were found in 2007 at a different spot. DNA tests identified them as the murdered royals.

Tsar Nicholas, Tsarina Alexandra and three daughters were formally reburied at St Petersburg’s Peter and Paul Cathedral on July 17, 1998 – the 80th anniversary of the murder. They were canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in 2000.

The new investigation is focusing on the remains of four Romanovs. They are: Tsarevich Alexei, Grand Duchess Maria – both kept at the Russian State Archive – Alexandra’s sister the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Fyodorovna, and Nicholas’s grandfather, former Tsar Alexander II, who was assassinated in 1881.

Only now can investigators get access to Duchess Elizabeth’s remains, which are in Jerusalem.

Investigators want to examine spots of blood on the greatcoat of Alexander II. He was killed by a bomb thrown by a “People’s Will” revolutionary, and buried in his military uniform in the Peter and Paul Cathedral.

Documents from the so-called “White Guards Investigation” concerning the 1918 murder will also be studied. They came to light in the past four years.

Egypt: Al Jazeera Journalists Freed After Presidential Pardon

Roy Siemens
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Egypt: Al Jazeera Journalists Freed After Presidential Pardon

Jailed Al Jazeera journalists Mohammed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed have been freed after receiving pardons from Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.

Egyptian-Canadian Mohammed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohamed were among 100 prisoners whose release was ordered.

Egypt’s state media said a third person from the case was also pardoned. It is not clear if this is the Australian Peter Greste, who was deported in February.

They were sentenced to three years in prison last month after a retrial.

Prosecutors accused them of collaborating with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood after the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi by the military in 2013.

The journalists denied the allegation and said they were simply reporting the news. Legal experts said the charges were unfounded and politically motivated.Al Jazeera journalists Egypt

A statement from President Abdul Fatah al-Sisi’s office issued on September 23 said Mohammed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were named on a decree pardoning 100 young people “who had received final court sentences, having been convicted on the grounds of violating the anti-protest law and assaulting police forces”.

“Other prisoners were pardoned due to their health conditions and on humanitarian grounds,” the statement added.

Also named were the prominent activists Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif, who were jailed in 2014 for taking part in an “illegal protest”.

After the pardons were first reported, a tweet from Mohammed Fahmy’s account said: “Thank you to all the supporters sending us the news, we have heard and are very happy. AJ Staff is Free!”

Al Jazeera said in a report on its website that it “continues to demand all charges and sentences against its journalists are dropped”, noting that Peter Greste and six other employees had been convicted in absentia.

The pardons were issued by President Abdul Fatah al-Sisi ahead of the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha and a day before he travels to New York to address the UN General Assembly.

The president had said he would be willing to pardon the Al Jazeera journalists once the judicial process had ended.

Mohammed Fahmy, who renounced his Egyptian citizenship to qualify for deportation in February, was expected to leave for Canada following his release.

Joe Biden Tops Presidential Choice for a Quarter of Democrats in New Poll

Nancy Clayson
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Joe Biden Tops Presidential Choice for a Quarter of Democrats in New Poll

According to a recent Bloomberg Poll, Vice President Joe Biden tops presidential choice for one in four Americans who are registered Democrats or lean.

The poll findings released on September 23 represent a notable achievement for an as-yet undeclared candidate, suggest concerns about Hillary Clinton’s candidacy and raise the prospect of a competitive three-way race for the Democratic presidential nomination, Bloomberg reports.

According to the national poll, Hillary Clinton is now the top choice of 33% of registered Democrats and those who lean Democrat.Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton in polls

Joe Biden places second with 25% and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is at 24%. The other three Democratic candidates combined are the top choice for less than 4% of that base.

Recent polls in states that will host the earliest contests of the presidential campaign, Iowa and New Hampshire, have shown Bernie Sanders closing in on and, in some cases, surpassing Hillary Clinton with Joe Biden in a more distant third place.

As Hillary Clinton’s numbers have dropped, Joe Biden has been openly mulling a late entry into the race.

However, Joe Biden is delaying a decision to allow himself and his family an opportunity to grieve the death of his son, Beau, to brain cancer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r-PUy4jKjg

Donald Trump to Sue Club for Growth over Attack Ad

Nancy Clayson
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Donald Trump to Sue Club for Growth over Attack Ad

Donald Trump has threatened to sue the conservative Club for Growth for its ad campaign in which the Republican presidential hopeful for his liberal economic policy positions.

On September 22, Donald Trump’s presidential campaign released a cease and desist letter sent by the tycoon’s general counsel, Alan Garten, to Club for Growth President David McIntosh.

In the letter written on the letterhead of Donald Trump’s business conglomerate, Alan Garten says the conservative group has misrepresented the billionaire’s views on taxes by taking an old statement that he would like to hike taxes across the board on the “superwealthy,” a view that Trump’s campaign claims he no longer holds.

Earlier this year, the Club for Growth asked for a $1 million donation from Donald Trump, which he declined.

The letter closes with an ultimatum: “In the interest of avoiding what will certainly be a costly litigation process, we are prepared to offer you the one-time opportunity to rectify this matter by providing us with your prompt written assurances that (i) you have stopped running the Attack Ads; and (ii) you will not generate or disseminate any misleading or inaccurate information or make any factually baseless accusations… with respect to my client at any point in the future.”

Photo AP
Photo AP

If the Club for Growth refuses to heed Donald Trump’s warnings, his counsel threatens: “We will commence a multi-million dollar lawsuit against you personally and your organization … as well as pursue all other remedies available to us at law or in equity.”

Club for Growth Action released a statement on September 22 responding to the Trump organization’s letter saying the ad campaign will continue.

“Tough guy Donald Trump starts whining when his liberal record is revealed,” said David McIntosh.

“Trump has advocated higher taxes numerous times over many years, just like he’s advocated for universal health care, the Wall Street bailout, and expanded government powers to take private property. 

“Trump’s own statements prove that our ads are accurate. They will continue to run. We suggest that Donald grow up, stop whining, and try to defend his liberal record.”

On September 15, the Club for Growth’s political arm held a press conference at the National Press Club in D.C. to announce it was launching a $1 million ad campaign in Iowa, branding Donald Trump “the worst kind of politician.”

The two ads highlight Donald Trump’s past statements that he identifies as a Democrat and that he has supported using eminent domain to take private property.

Donald Trump, one of the ads says, is “playing us for chumps”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OEijvTi0NE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRZ8jBlLGm8

VW Emissions Scandal: CEO Martin Winterkorn Resigns

Clyde K. Valle
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VW Emissions Scandal: CEO Martin Winterkorn Resigns

VW CEO Martin Winterkorn has resigned after the revelation that the world’s largest automaker manipulated US diesel car emissions tests.

Martin Winterkorn said he was “shocked” by recent events and that Volkswagen needed a “fresh start”.

He added that he was “not not aware of any wrong doing on my part” but was acting in the interest of the company.

VW has already said that it is setting aside €6.5 billion to cover the costs of the scandal.

The world’s biggest carmaker admitted last week that it deceived US regulators in exhaust emissions tests by installing a device to give more positive results.

VW said later that it affected 11 million vehicles worldwide.

“I am clearing the way for a fresh start with my resignation,” Martin Winterkorn said in his statement.VW CEO Martin Winterkorn resigns

He said he was “stunned” at the scale of the misconduct in the group but that he was confident that VW would overcome this “grave crisis”.

“The process of clarification and transparency must continue. This is the only way to win back trust,” he continued.

In a separate statement, VW’s supervisory board said they would announce Martin Winterkorn’s successor at a board meeting on September 25, adding that it was “expecting further personnel consequences in the next days” as a result of its own investigations.

“The internal group investigations are continuing at a high tempo,” it said.

“All participants in these proceedings that has resulted in unmeasurable harm for Volkswagen will be subject to the full consequences.”

The board also said that it would voluntarily submit a complaint to the state prosecutors.

“In the view of the Executive Committee criminal proceedings may be relevant due to the irregularities,” its statement said.

German public prosecutors have already said they are considering an investigation, with US authorities also said to be planning criminal investigations.

In addition, VW faces fines of up to $18 billion by the regulator, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

VW’s shares have tumbled some 30% since the beginning of the week in response to the scandal.

Pope Francis Speech at White House Welcoming Ceremony

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis Speech at White House Welcoming Ceremony

On the first day of his visit to the US, Pope Francis has called for further action on climate change saying that it was “a critical moment of history”.

Speaking to a crowd of more than 11,000 people on the White House South Lawn, Pope Francis said the problem could “no longer be left to a future generation”.

President Barack Obama said Pope Francis reminded people “that we have a sacred obligation to protect our planet”.

The pontiff will later conduct the first canonization on US soil.

Following the speech, the two leaders met behind closed doors in the Oval Office.

Speaking in English – one of the few times the Argentine pontiff is expected to do so during the week’s many events – Pope Francis praised President Barack Obama for recent proposals aimed at tackling air pollution.

Photo Getty Imagez
Photo Getty Imagez

Time remains to make the changes required, Pope Francis said, in a speech that also called for protecting religious liberty and stamping out discrimination.

The environmental issue is a divisive one in US politics, with one Republican congressman boycotting Pope Francis’ speech to Congress on September 24 because of the pontiff’s stance.

All the leading Republican presidential candidates oppose action to tackle climate change because they say it will hurt the economy.

The morning began with the pontiff emerging from the Apostolic Nunciature – the Holy See’s equivalent of an embassy – around 09:00 local time.

Clad in his traditional white cassock, Pope Francis spent several minutes greeting well-wishers who had assembled behind temporary fencing in front of the diplomatic complex.

After shaking hands and giving hugs and kisses to the largely young crowd, the pope boarded a modest hatchback trailed by a convoy of large security vehicles and made the 15-minute drive through Washington on streets that had been cleared of traffic for the occasion.

At the White House large crowds gathered on the South Lawn to greet Pope Francis. Officials said over 11,000 tickets had been issued, but noted that the crowd was even larger.

A cadre of Obama administration officials and a military color guard flanked a stage set up outside the South Portico – among the most rare and respectful diplomatic ceremonies that the US government can offer visiting dignitaries.

Following a military color guard and the playing of the Holy See and US national anthems, President Barack Obama welcomed Pope Francis with brief remarks.

The canonization on September 23 will be part of a Spanish-language Mass to be held at the largest Roman Catholic church in North America, and will elevate to sainthood the Spanish missionary who brought Christianity to what is now the US west coast.

At the afternoon Mass, Junipero Serra, a Spanish Franciscan who founded a mission in California in the 18th Century, will become the first Hispanic saint in the US.

But the decision to canonize the missionary has been criticized by some Native Americans, who view him as someone who aggressively imposed Catholicism on their ancestors.

Pope Francis has in the past apologized for the treatment of indigenous people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4iDF0RPXgU

Leaving Kids Alone: How Long is Too Long?

Dana R
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Leaving Kids Alone: How Long is Too Long?

When it comes to leaving kids alone, how long is too long? That’s the question being asked by many after several reported cases of parents getting in trouble with the law for leaving their children alone. Most legislation on the matter is vague. Take the state of Illinois, for example. The law says children under 14 are considered willfully abandoned if left alone for any “unreasonable” amount of time.

That such an open-ended law could end up on the books indicates a case-by-case approach, but it doesn’t always seem to work. Natasha, a mother living in the Chicago area, says she let her three sons, aged eleven, nine, and five, play at the park opposite her apartment complex. There weren’t out even out of her sight—she was watching them from her window—and yet charges of neglect were brought against her, resulting in a serious disruption to her life.

kids-alone
Photo source: media.rd.com

“I can’t go on field trips with my sons because they do background checks,” she says. “My kids know I’m a great mom to them.” To fight the charges, she was forced to give up her plans for nursing school.

“Letting your kids go to the park, we don’t think any of that constitutes blatant disregard as the law defines it,” said Diane Redleaf, one of the family attorneys representing Natasha.

Natasha’s story isn’t unique. In April of this year, Danielle and Alexander Meitiv had to wrestle their kids from Children’s Protective Services after allowing them to walk home from the park. In Florida, two parents were hit with felony neglect charges after neighbors reported their son was playing basketball alone in the backyard for an hour and a half. They say they were running late that day, and weren’t home in time to unlock the door for their son.

Natasha says she hopes her case will set a precedent for others. “Even if it doesn’t come off my record, other people shouldn’t have to go through what I went through.”

Redleaf added: “We have opened the door to rampant calls against people in circumstances that are in no way neglect and we have to put some guidelines down on paper and in practice,” said Redleaf. “And only if they blatantly disregard their duty as parents should the state step in.”

Cases like Natasha have inspired the “free-range” movement—a loose collection of activists and organizations that seek to prevent these kinds of incidents from happening. Some of them want to change legislation to give more leeway to parents.

“A Free-Range Kid is a kid who gets treated as a smart, young, capable individual, not an invalid who needs constant attention and help,” writes Lenore Skenazy, a mother and free-range kid activist living in New York City. She’s the author of a popular book called “Free-Range Kids: How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry)”, and the star of the Canadian television show World’s Worst Mom.

In a piece for The Atlantic, Skenazy reported only 13 percent of children in the U.S. walk to school, and only six percent of 9-13 year olds play outside in a given week.

Responding to a scathing report issued by Redleaf’s Family Defense Center, Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services stated:

“Ultimately the Department of Children and Family Services considers all allegations of inadequate supervision on a case by case basis, because what may be appropriate under certain circumstances may be considered child neglect in others.”

They added that parents and caregivers should “consider all the risks involved when thinking about leaving children alone and to recognize the signs, such as maturity, acceptance of responsibility and awareness of the needs of others, when a child shows that he or she may be ready.”

VW Emissions Scandal: World’s Largest Automaker Facing Multiple Investigations in US

Clyde K. Valle
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VW Emissions Scandal: World’s Largest Automaker Facing Multiple Investigations in US

According to new reports, world’s biggest automaker Volkswagen is facing multiple investigations in the US, including a criminal probe from the Department of Justice.

They follow an admission by the German carmaker that it deceived US regulators in exhaust emissions tests.

A DoJ criminal investigation would be serious, as federal authorities can bring charges with severe penalties against a company and individuals.

Late on Tuesday, September 22, New York state’s top lawyer announced an investigation.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said he would collaborate with other states to enforce consumer and environmental law.

“No company should be allowed to evade our environmental laws or promise consumers a fake bill of goods,” Eric Schneiderman said in a statement announcing the probe.Volkswagen Diesel emissions scandal

Meanwhile the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board are investigating the way VW cheated tests to measure the amount of pollutants coming from its diesel cars.

VW said 11 million vehicles worldwide were involved and it was setting aside €6.5 billion to cover costs of the scandal.

According to news agencies Bloomberg and AFP, the DoJ is looking into the issue, which raises the possibility of the company and individual executives facing criminal charges.

However, the DoJ often extracts hefty payments from companies to settle criminal charges.

VW is due to hold a supervisory board meeting on September 25.

Reports say VW CEO Martin Winterkorn will appear before a select group of board members before then, possibly on September 23.

On September 22, Martin Winterkorn issued a fresh apology for the test-rigging, saying he was “endlessly sorry” for the “manipulation”.

The boss of Volkswagen’s US business, Michael Horn, has also admitted the company “totally screwed up”.

VW shares were down almost 17% on September 22 in Frankfurt, after losing 19% on September 21.

Academic Stress Leads to More College Football Injuries, According to Research

Dana R
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Academic Stress Leads to More College Football Injuries, According to Research

J.Bryan Mann wanted to know what was behind an increase of injuries among University of Missouri football players. At the time, he was an assistant director of strength and conditioning at the university, and is now an assistant professor of physical therapy. He began studying the problem, running analyses to determine the root cause. But none of the models he tried seemed to explain the rash of injuries. “We ran everything we could possibly think of,” he told The Huffington Post, “We found nothing.”

Finally, Mann decided to see if there was a correlation between the increased injuries and the dates they occurred. The results stunned him. He noticed that football players were more likely to be injured during certain parts of the year. Training season saw a big spike in injuries, but this was more or less to be expected. What really caught Mann’s eye was the injury spike during exam weeks.

College Football Injuries
Photo Source: www.carolinahuddle.com

Looking to corroborate his research, Mann took his findings to Brick Johnson, a fellow professor at the school who specializes in health psychology. The two enlisted the help of other professors, and together they produced the paper called The effect of physical and academic stress on illness and injury in division 1 college football players.

The researchers found that players were three times as likely to suffer an injury during periods of high academic stress, such as midterm exams and finals.

“Stress is a syndrome, and all stress affects the body the same way, although not to the same intensity,” Mann writes. “So it doesn’t matter if the stress is coming from practice, from strength training, from conditioning, from academics, from relationships, from monetary [issues], from any of those means. It’s going to affect the body in the same way. And we’ve only got so much resistance that we can give before something starts to break.”

The effects of stress on illness have been studied for quite some time, but the relationship between the two is far from fully understood. Based on Mann’s and similar findings, many schools have begun trying to reduce the amount of academic stress their student-athletes face during the school year. The Pac-12 Conference, for example, advocates health and promotes wellness of their athletes. A report from the conference found that, although the majority of students were satisfied with conditions for student-athletes, many of them were working with schedules that prevented a full night’s sleep. “Sleep is the number one thing their athletic time commitments prevent them from doing, ultimately hindering their athletic and academic performance,” the Pac-12 report stated.

Mann hopes his study will inspire other universities to look into the issue. “We can’t account for when somebody’s significant other breaks up with them. We can’t account for financial problems that the athlete’s family has,” said Mann. “But you know what we can account for? Whenever there’s going to be a test.”

Mann recommends coaches relax training and practice schedules when they conflict with periods of high academic stress. “They cannot say, ‘Campus you are not having tests. That’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said. “But what they can say is, ‘Look, instead of two hours of practice maybe we go an hour and a half, an hour and forty five. Maybe we pick some drills that work more on the technical and tactical side rather than the physical side of sport preparation for the week. It’s just small changes like that.”

Mann believes that coaches should view student-athletes as equal parts student, and equal parts athlete. The numbers don’t lie, either—athletes perform better when they’re under less stress. Otherwise, college campuses face the very real possibility of going head-to-head with a personal injury attorney. Time will tell how these findings factor into decisions by college administrators.

Yogi Berra Dies at the Age of 90

Clyde K. Valle
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Yogi Berra Dies at the Age of 90

Baseball legend Yogi Berra has died at the age of 90.

The Yankees icon was said to have inspired the cartoon character Yogi Bear.

The Yogi Berra Museum announced that the Hall of Fame catcher had died on September 22.

Yogi Berra spent almost all of his 19-year career with the New York Yankees. He was a three-time Most Valuable Player and 13-time World Series champion.

He was also known for his humorous and paradoxical quotes.Baseball legend Yogi Berra dead

They included “it ain’t over till it’s over” and “half the lies they tell about me aren’t true”.

Tributes have already begun to pour in from the world of baseball.

The New York Yankees tweeted simply: “We have lost an icon.”

Major League Baseball tweeted: “We mourn the passing of Yankees icon and Hall of Famer Yogi Berra.”

Yogi Berra launched a defamation lawsuit over the Hanna-Barbera cartoon Yogi Bear, although he later withdrew it.

The management said the name was a coincidence, but it was widely believed he was the inspiration.

Yogi Berra is said to have been given the nickname Yogi by a friend who saw him sitting cross-legged and looking like a meditating yogi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD9N7oPGVQo

Xi Jinping US Trip: Foreign Companies Welcomed in China amid Economic Reforms

Clyde K. Valle
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Xi Jinping US Trip: Foreign Companies Welcomed in China amid Economic Reforms

China’s President Xi Jinping has sought to reassure US business leaders during a speech on his first visit to the US.

In a Seattle speech covering China’s economic reforms and cyber crime, Xi Jinping said foreign companies were welcome in his country, and that Beijing would not manipulate its currency to boost exports.

The Chinese president also denied Beijing engages in hacking but said China would co-operate with Washington on the issue.

Both issues have strained US-China relations in recent years.

Hacking and economic reforms are likely to come up when Xi Jinping meets President Barack Obama on September 25.

Photo New York Times
Photo New York Times

Xi Jinping, who is on his first state visit to the US, told a dinner meeting of business leaders that ensuring robust international trade was a top priority.

“China will never close its open door to the outside world,” Xi Jinping said.

In response to US allegations that China-linked hackers have been behind a massive data security breach of government databases as well as attacks on private firms, Xi Jinping said Beijing was not involved.

He also said cyber-theft was a crime and should be punished.

“The Chinese government will not in whatever form engage in commercial thefts or encourage or support such attempts by anyone,” the Chinese president said.

Ahead of his visit, business leaders re-iterated the difficulties US companies have operating in China and the deteriorating outlook for the economy.

China’s economy, which has grown rapidly in recent years, is beginning to slow, causing global concern about a fall in demand for global goods.

Recent dramatic losses on the Chinese stock markets, despite government interventions, have led to questions over how well the government is managing the slowdown.

President Xi Jinping will be hosted at the White House for a state dinner on September 25, and is due to give a speech to the UN General Assembly in New York on September 28.

Sergei Pugachev Files $12 Billion Compensation Claim Against Russian State

Clyde K. Valle
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Sergei Pugachev Files $12 Billion Compensation Claim Against Russian State

Russian oligarch Sergei Pugachev has announced he filed a $12 billion compensation claim against the Russian state.

In the claim at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the tycoon once known as Putin’s banker said Russia had carved up his empire after he fell out with President Vladimir Putin.

Russia accuses Sergei Pugachev, 52, of embezzling millions of dollars.

An Interpol arrest warrant has been issued for him at Moscow’s request.

Sergei Pugachev denies the charges.

The tycoon – who once estimated his business empire was worth $15 billion – announced his move against Russia on September 22 in Paris.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Sergei Pugachev told Reuters that Vladimir Putin’s allies had “expropriated my assets” following the 2008 global financial crisis and then pursued him in courts on charges of embezzlement and asset misappropriation.

He also said that he had feared for his life after falling out with Vladimir Putin.

Sergei Pugachev – the founder of Mezhprombank – said his case resembled that of Yukos, Russia’s now defunct oil producer giant.

In 2014, The Hague court ruled that Russia should pay $50 billion in damages to former Yukos shareholders. It said Russian officials had manipulated the legal system to bankrupt Yukos and jailed its boss Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

Russia said it would appeal against the ruling.

Meanwhile in Russia, a court in May ordered Sergei Pugachev’s arrest on embezzlement charges. The oligarch is accused of knowingly bankrupting his own bank.

Sergei Pugachev left Russia in 2011 and since then has been living in Britain and France.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not commented on Sergei Pugachev’s compensation claim in The Hague court.

However, Dmitry Peskov said investigations in Russia against Sergei Pugachev had nothing to do with the tycoon’s relations with President Vladimir Putin.

“If I am not mistaken, Pugachev is on a wanted list, after all, and, of course, the investigative and search work… has nothing to do with friendly or unfriendly relations,” Dmitry Peskov told Russia’s Ekho Moskvy radio station

“Therefore, here I would absolutely not mix these two issues,” he added.

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

Hillary Clinton Opposes Keystone Pipeline

Diane A. Wade
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Hillary Clinton Opposes Keystone Pipeline

Hillary Clinton says she opposes the controversial Keystone XL pipeline which would carry Canadian oil to the US.

The US State Department is still studying whether to go ahead with the Keystone XL project.

The Democratic presidential candidate has previously avoided taking a position on the matter.

Now, at a campaign event in Iowa, Hillary Clinton said the pipeline would be a “distraction from the important work we have to do to combat climate change”.Hillary Clinton opposes Keystone pipeline

“Therefore, I oppose it,” she told supporters.

Until now, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had avoiding giving an opinion on the project, saying she did not want to interfere with the Obama administration’s deliberations.

However, Hillary Clinton’s main rival for the Democratic candidacy, Bernie Sanders, has long opposed the scheme and called on her to make her position clear.

The 1,179-mile pipe was first proposed seven years ago, and would transport oil from the oil sands in Alberta, Canada, to the Gulf of Mexico via Nebraska.

Supporters say the project will create jobs and US increase energy security, while opponents say it will only increase carbon emissions.

Turing Pharmaceuticals to Cut Daraprim Price After Backlash

Kathryn R. Bown
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Turing Pharmaceuticals to Cut Daraprim Price After Backlash

Turing Pharmaceuticals has announced it will lower the price of Daraprim after faced a backlash following raising the price of the drug used by AIDS patients by over 5,000%.

Turing CEO Martin Shkreli told reporters he would drop the price following the outcry, but did not say by how much.

Turing Pharmaceuticals acquired the rights to Daraprim in August 2015.

The company then raised the cost of the drug, which treats a parasitic infection, from $13.50 to $750.

Amid criticism from medical groups – one called the cost “unjustifiable” – Martin Shkreli on September 21 defended the increase, saying the profits would help research new treatments.Daraprim price increase scandal 2015

Martin Shkreli accused critics of not understanding the pharmaceutical industry.

He has now told ABC News: “We’ve agreed to lower the price on Daraprim to a point that is more affordable and is able to allow the company to make a profit, but a very small profit.”

Earlier in the day, PhRMA, the pharmaceutical industry’s main lobbying group, tweeted that Turing “does not represent the values of PhRMA member companies”.

Agreeing a price for any drug is a tricky business.

In the US, the buyers are private insurance companies as well as the government through the Medicare and Medicaid system. It’s a market and prices can go up and down, depending on what people are willing to pay.

In recent years, pharmaceutical research and development has slowed and companies have to think carefully about what they invest in. Blockbusters such as Viagra pull in money, but orphan drugs for rare diseases can be less attractive. Not many patients use them, and so turning a profit may be difficult.

Pope Francis Welcomed by Barack Obama and First Family as He Lands in US

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis Welcomed by Barack Obama and First Family as He Lands in US

Pope Francis has been welcomed by President Barack Obama as he landed in the US on September 22 – a rare honor for a foreign dignitary.

The pontiff has begun his trip to the US, where he is expected to greet millions of American Catholics and address thorny issues like climate change and income inequality.

Pope Francis will visit Washington DC, New York and Philadelphia.

Before he departed Cuba, the pontiff called on its people to live a “revolution of tenderness”.

Photo AP
Photo AP

In the final Mass of his four-day visit to the island, with President Raul Castro attending, he urged thousands of Cubans to serve one another and not an ideology.

On the trip from Cuba to the US, the Pope held a news conference and answered those who said his criticisms of capitalism went too far.

“I’ve never said anything that is not in the social doctrine of the church,” the Pope told reporters.

“Maybe I have given the impression of (being) a bit lefty, but that would be a mistaken interpretation.”

When he landed at Andrews Air Force Base, Pope Francis was greeted by Barack Obama and his family along with Vice-President Joe Biden and his wife.

The crowd, which included a military honor guard, schoolchildren, politicians, and Roman Catholic clergymen, chanted: “Welcome to the USA! Hello! Hey!”

After a brief chat with President Barack Obama, the pope rode away in a small charcoal-gray Fiat as part of a motorcade bound for the Vatican diplomatic mission in Washington.

Authorities have launched one of the biggest security operations in US history to ensure the pope’s safety.

The pontiff, who has sought to bring Catholics back to the church with a more inclusive message, is very popular in the US and is expected to draw massive crowds in all three cities.

A large portion of central Philadelphia will be practically closed off during his visit and federal employees in Washington have been urged to work remotely while Pope Francis is in the capital.

The event could attract up to a million and a half people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbwi9LN7Jkw

NO.1 S3 Smartwatch Phone : Putting Siri to shame

Ricky Robinson
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NO.1 S3 Smartwatch Phone : Putting Siri to shame

Smartwatches are all the rage these days. Everyday a new one pops up with the supposed greatest features, greatest connectivity, fastest interface and on and on and on. So how do you sort through the plethora of advertisements? Do research and compare apples to apples. Like any product, not all smartwatches are created equal. The devil is in the details with these devices. Which brings us to the NO. 1 S3 Smartwatch phone. Not just a smartwatch, but a smartwatch phone. Why? Because it has no much functionality you typically find on smartphones. This makes it a lot easier to use.

NO.1 S3 Smartwatch Phone
NO.1 S3 Smartwatch Phone

How it works

The S3 works in a lot of ways. For starters, it isn’t limited to just working with your iOS or Android device as other brands are. It can do what the more expensive models do, but with less damage to your wallet and more connectivity options. Smartwatches are meant to sync with your phone, which the S3 invariable does. But it does this in a number of ways.

NO.1 S3 Smartwatch Phone Heart Monnitor
NO.1 S3 Smartwatch Phone

The watch seamlessly syncs with your phone and allows you answer calls or dial right from your wrist. On a similar note, it does allow synchronization between things like call logs, messages and even contacts. This allows for you to quickly view these items on your wrist discretely if you need to. The face where you enter commands is very durable; hard and hard to scratch to boot. It’s pretty comfortable to wear also with a trendy leather strap.

Extra Features

It boasts a litany of extra features that you’ll be hard pressed to find elsewhere. It has a pedometer if you want to monitor your steps for exercise. It can also keep track of your sleep health by monitoring sleep quality while you take your nightly snooze. The S3 will also monitor your heart rate if you want to keep track during exercise. No need to hook up a separate device; just glance at your wrist.

Aside from the health monitoring bonuses, it has interesting additions like an alarm, stop watch and remote capture. The last bit is particularly interesting. It allows you to control the phone’s camera as long as the camera is selected on the phones interface. So next time you want a family picture, you can take it yourself, right from your wrist, with the phone across the room.

All the things the S3 does sound awesome, but it’s the price that’s the kicker. The device wouldn’t be a boon to consumers without competitive pricing. Luckily it does have a shockingly reasonable price. You can get it for under $60 here and receive fast and free shipping as the icing on this techno-cake. By the way, the Apple Watch starts at $350 and about 200 of that is just for the Apple name. You can do better. Just saying.

What are the main features?

NO.1 S3 Smartwatch Phone

NO.1 S3 Round Dial Smartwatch Phone MTK2502

Heart Rate Monitor

Sleep Monitor, Thermometer,

Water-resistance, Sedentary Reminder

Bluetooth 4.0
Main Features:
Dialer / Bluetooth phone call( Bluetooth 4.0)
You can dial or answer a phone call from your wrist watch
Phonebook / call log / message/ music sync function
Easily realize information synchronization with your universal smart phone, more convenient to users
Circular Nano-glass touch screen
Nano-glass screen, very hard and anti-scratch, the combination of high quality and fashion
Heart Rate Monitor
The watch can monitor your heart rate; you can know your heart rate from the display during sport time when you wear it
Remote capture
You can use your watch to control your phone’s camera, but assure your phone’s camera has been switched on in advance
Music playing
Enjoy splendid music anywhere and anytime
Anti-lost alarm
Watch seek phone, and phone seek watch
Sleep monitoring
Carefully monitor your sleep quality
Pedometer
Record the steps you take and count the distance to make you fully control your sports
Sedentary reminder
Develop scientific habits and effectively resist sub-health
Other functions
Sound recorder/ alarm / calender / calculator / stop watch
Natural leather strap
Anti-sweat matte surface treatment, ergonomic convex design, wearing more comfortable
Metal plating frame
Strong and durable, luxury and elegant
Pin buckle design
Classic stainless steel pin buckle, Convenient to wear and take off
Water-resistance: Protect your Smartwatch from the water from daily life
Synchronization:Support with Android system and IOS system
Find out the complete technical specs here.

What are the most interesting facts about a nursing career?

Kathryn R. Bown
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What are the most interesting facts about a nursing career?

Nursing is a great career choice for those who are committed to making a difference in the lives of others. Those who decide to go back to school to pursue a degree in Nursing have a big decision to make – what type of Nursing program to choose. Many schools across the country offer either a Registered Nursing program or a Licensed Practical Nursing program. There are career growth and educational opportunities for RNs. As a Registered Nurse, there are opportunities for career growth, as well as opportunities to explore various related roles, such as Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Educator.

infographic-v3

Refugee Crisis: EU Approves Controversial Quota Plan

Diane A. Wade
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Refugee Crisis: EU Approves Controversial Quota Plan

EU home affairs ministers have approved a controversial plan to relocate 120,000 migrants across Europe over the next two years.

It will see refugees moved from Italy, Greece and Hungary to other EU countries.

Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and the Czech Republic voted against accepting mandatory quotas.

After the vote, Slovakia’s prime minister said he would not accept the new quotas.EU refugee quota plan 2015

Finland abstained from the vote. Poland, which had opposed the proposal, voted for it.

It is highly unusual for an issue like this – which involves national sovereignty – to be decided by majority vote rather than unanimous decision.

The matter must now be ratified by EU leaders in Brussels on September 23.

Earlier in the day, the Czech government warned that the plan was unlikely to work, even if it gained approval.

The UN refugee agency said the scheme would be insufficient, given the large numbers arriving in Europe.

“A relocation program alone, at this stage in the crisis, will not be enough to stabilize the situation,” UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said.

The number of those needing relocation will probably have to be revised upwards significantly, she said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YAg1LvXrGo

Pope Francis Celebrates Final Mass of Cuba Trip Before Heading to US

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis Celebrates Final Mass of Cuba Trip Before Heading to US

Pope Francis celebrated the final Mass of his four-day visit to Cuba, calling on Cubans to live a “revolution of tenderness”.

The Mass was celebrated at Cuba’s holiest shrine, the sanctuary of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre.

Pope Francis then left for the United States, where he will address both houses of Congress.

The Pope has avoided any overt political statements during his visit to Cuba.

Commentators say the pontiff is expected to be more outspoken while in the US.

In Washington DC he will hold the first-ever canonization mass on US soil and then give the first address to Congress by a pope.Pope Francis El Cobre Mass

Pope Francis will then head to New York City for the 70th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly.

The final leg of Pope Francis’ US tour is Philadelphia where the pontiff will preside over the Vatican’s World Meeting of Families.

It is being billed as one of the largest events in Philadelphia in modern times and could attract up to a million and half people.

During his time in Cuba, Pope Francis asked Cubans to follow the example set by the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre “to build bridges, to break down walls, to sow seeds of reconciliation”.

The Virgin symbolizes Cuba’s mixed Spanish and African roots.

Alluding to Cuba’s 1959 Communist revolution which brought Fidel Castro to power, Pope Francis said: “Our revolution comes about through tenderness, through the joy which always becomes closeness and compassion, which isn’t pain, and leads us to get involved in, and to serve, the life of others.”

During the trip, there have been complaints from some Cuban dissidents that Pope Francis did not receive them to hear their concerns about human rights on the island.

The Vatican said such a meeting was never on the agenda.

Refugee Crisis: EU Home Affairs Ministers Try to Solve Mandatory Quotas Dispute

Diane A. Wade
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Refugee Crisis: EU Home Affairs Ministers Try to Solve Mandatory Quotas Dispute

EU ministers are meeting in Brussels to try to resolve a dispute over how to relocate 120,000 refugees who have recently arrived in Europe.

Some central European states have resisted calls for EU members to accept mandatory quotas.

Whatever is decided, the UN says the EU’s plans will not be enough.

The refugees are part of 500,000 to have arrived by sea this year so far. Germany says it expects at least 800,000 this year.

The arrival of hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers has created deep EU divisions.

Home affairs ministers meeting in Brussels on September 22 are hoping to reach agreement which would be ratified by EU leaders on September 23.EU refugee crisis 2015

Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland all oppose the idea of obligatory quotas, promoted by Germany which has accepted large numbers of migrants.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said two weeks ago that mandatory quotas were “a first step” towards a more permanent scheme to deal with the influx.

However, mandatory quotas have now been dropped, diplomats say, and a voluntary relocation scheme is now on the table.

Most of those arriving in the EU are from war-torn Syria, the European Commission says.

The relocation scheme would prioritize refugees recognized as “in need of international protection” – those from Syria, Eritrea and Iraq, according to EU data.

The 120,000 would be transferred from Hungary, Greece and Italy – the states where most migrants have been entering the EU.

The UK, under an opt-out, would not be part of the relocation scheme but has already agreed to take 20,000 refugees directly from countries bordering Syria over the next five years.

The Irish Republic and Denmark, with similar opt-outs, have agreed to take part in the EU scheme.

The UN Refugee Agency has warned that the relocation scheme will be insufficient given the large numbers arriving in Europe.

“A relocation program alone, at this stage in the crisis, will not be enough to stabilize the situation,” spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said.

The number of those needing to be relocated will probably need to be revised upwards significantly, she said.

Newcomers continued arriving in southern Europe on September 22 in the hope of making their way north to Germany and Scandinavia.

Hundreds are crossing the Hungarian border into Austria – and about 4,000 are reaching the Greek island of Lesbos every day.

Ahmed Mohamed Withdraws from MacArthur High School

Nancy Clayson
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Ahmed Mohamed Withdraws from MacArthur High School

Ahmed Mohamed, the Muslim teenager arrested after a homemade clock he brought to his school was mistaken for a bomb, has quit MacArthur High School in Texas, his family says.

The boy’s father, Mohamed El-Hassan Mohamed, said he had pulled all his children from schools in the area.

According to Mohamed El-Hassan Mohamed, the arrest had a harmful effect on his 14-year-old boy.

Ahmed Mohamed’s arrest has been sharply criticized and the charges against him were quickly dropped.Ahmed Mohamed withdraws from high school

The boy was arrested at MacArthur High School in Irving, after officials thought the device he brought to school was a “hoax bomb”.

“Ahmed said: <<I don’t want to go to MacArthur>>,” Mohamed El-Hassan Mohamed told The Dallas Morning News on September 22.

“These kids aren’t going to be happy there.”

Ahmed Mohamed has received numerous enrolment offers from schools, his father said, adding that he wanted to give him a break before making a decision.

The entire family is set to fly to New York on September 23 where United Nations dignitaries want to meet Ahmed Mohamed.

After that, Mohamed El-Hassan Mohamed hopes to take his son on a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

“I ask Allah to bless this time. After that, we’ll see,” the father said.

When they return, they plan to visit the White House to meet President Barack Obama, he said.

Ahmed Mohamed announced his plans to transfer schools at a news conference last week.

He told reporters it was “very sad” that his teacher thought his clock was a threat.

Ahmed Mohamed’s arrest has been sharply criticized, and the boy has received an outpouring of support including an invitation to the White House.

VW Emissions Scandal Affects 11 Million Vehicles Worldwide

Clyde K. Valle
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VW Emissions Scandal Affects 11 Million Vehicles Worldwide

At least 11 million vehicles worldwide are affected by the scandal that has erupted over Volkswagen’s rigging of US car emissions tests, the company said.

The carmaker said it was setting aside €6.5 billion to cover costs of the scandal.

VW added this would pay for “necessary service measures and other efforts to win back the trust of our customers”.

Volkswagen CEO Michael Horn has admitted it “totally screwed up” in using software to rig emissions tests.

VW shares were down more than 20% on September 22 in Frankfurt.

On September 18, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said VW diesel cars had much higher emissions than tests had suggested and that software in several diesel cars could deceive regulators.

“Volkswagen does not tolerate any kind of violation of laws whatsoever,” the carmaker said in its latest statement.

VW said provision for the scandal would be made “in the profit and loss statement in the third quarter of the current fiscal year”.

It added: “Due to the ongoing investigations, the amounts estimated may be subject to revaluation.”

French Finance Minister Michel Sapin has called for an EU inquiry, but a UK car industry spokesman said there was “no evidence” of cheating.

However, he also described current testing methods as “outdated” and said the car industry wanted an updated emissions test, “more representative of on-road conditions”.

Minister Michel Sapin said inquiries in Europe had to be conducted “at a European level”.

“We are a European market with European rules,” he told Europe 1 radio.

“It is these that have to be respected. It is these that have been violated in the United States.”

The French carmakers’ federation backed Michel Sapin’s call, saying such an inquiry would “allow us to confirm that French carmakers respect the procedures for approval in all of the countries where they operate”.

However, a European Commission spokeswoman said it was “premature to comment on whether any specific immediate surveillance measures are also necessary in Europe”.VW Dieselgate emissions scandal

Elsewhere, the South Korean government said it would test up to 5,000 Jetta and Golf cars, along with Audi A3s made in 2014 and 2015.

Its investigation will be expanded to all German diesel cars if issues are found.

The White House in Washington also reportedly said it was “quite concerned” about VW’s conduct.

Volkswagen was ordered to recall half a million cars in the US on September 18.

In addition to paying for the recall, VW faces fines that could add up to billions of dollars. There may also be criminal charges for VW executives.

In its latest statement, VW said it was “working at full speed to clarify irregularities” concerning what it called “a particular software used in diesel engines”.

The EPA found the “defeat device”, the device that allowed VW cars to emit less during tests than they would while driving normally, in diesel cars including the Audi A3 and the VW Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Passat models.

VW has stopped selling the relevant diesel models in the US, where diesel cars account for about a quarter of its sales.

The EPA said that the fine for each vehicle that did not comply with federal clean air rules would be up to $37,500. With 482,000 cars sold since 2008 involved in the allegations, it means the fines could reach $18 billion.

VW has ordered an external investigation, although it has not revealed who will be conducting it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MqyE3z07sg

Burkina Faso Troops Arrive in Ouagadougou Seeking Coup Leader Surrender

Roy Siemens
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Burkina Faso Troops Arrive in Ouagadougou Seeking Coup Leader Surrender

Burkina Faso’s army has arrived in the country’s capital, Ouagadougou, seeking the surrender of coup leader, General Gilbert Diendere.

Negotiations between army chiefs and the presidential guard have stalled, a senior military officer said.

Troops are moving through the capital, as the deadline to Gen. Gilbert Diendere to surrender passed.

Gilbert Diendere staged a coup last week after opposing moves to integrate the presidential guard into the army.

He has released the president and the prime minister, following talks brokered by mediators.

The coup has been widely condemned, with the African Union suspending Burkina Faso’s membership.Burkina Faso army gives coup leader ultimatum

Gilbert Diendere says he will step aside once regional leaders, due to meet in Nigeria, endorse a peace plan, including an amnesty for coup plotters.

Burkina Faso’s PM Isaac Zida was captured by the presidential guard in last week’s coup.

France’s ambassador to Burkina Faso, Gilles Thibault, has also tweeted that interim President Michel Kafando, who was arrested on September 16, has been released from house arrest and is now at the ambassador’s residence.

Speaking from a secret location, Gen. Gilbert Diendere said: “Ready to surrender? We are not there yet… We wish to continue the discussions and we say to all that we are ready to implement Ecowas’ [West African regional group’s] decisions.”

He also apologized to the population, saying an apology was “the least we could do”.

The Ecowas plan should be discussed by West African heads of state in Nigeria on September 22.

The presidential guard is loyal to ousted President Blaise Compaore and installed Gen. Gilbert Diendere as the new leader last week.

Since then, at least 10 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in clashes.

Burkina Faso’s army ordered the presidential guard to disarm before it marched on the capital.

“We must now secure the surrender of the [coup leaders] without gunfire or bloodshed,” Col. Serge Alain Ouedraogo, of the Burkinabe police, told AFP.

Ecowas’ plan includes the return to civilian government, an amnesty for the soldiers behind the coup and elections by the end of November.

Gilbert Diendere, who was the chief of staff to Blaise Compaore, led the coup a month before elections had been due in Burkina Faso.

Philippines: Foreign Tourists Kidnapped from Samal Island Resort

Roy Siemens
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Philippines: Foreign Tourists Kidnapped from Samal Island Resort

Two Canadian tourists, a Norwegian hotel manager and a Filipino woman have been kidnapped from a resort in the southern Philippines, the military has said.

An army spokesman said the abductees were taken by gunmen late on September 21 from the Holiday Oceanview resort on Samal Island, near Davao City on Mindanao.

The attackers, who have not been identified by police, left by boat, Capt. Alberto Caber told reporters.

He said it appeared the four were targeted rather than taken at random.

Since the 1990s the southern Philippines has seen sporadic incidents of kidnapping by Muslim militant groups, who hold hostages for ransom.

Philippine authorities have named the Canadians as John Ridsel and Robert Hall.Tourists kidnapped in Philippines

The Norwegian, Kjartan Sekkingstad, was said to be the manager of the resort.

The Filipino woman has not been identified, but she is said to be the partner of one of the kidnapped Canadians.

Authorities also said two Japanese tourists had tried to intervene to prevent the kidnapping, which took place shortly before midnight.

The Associated Press quoted Capt. Alberto Caber as saying a naval blockade was being set up around the island to stop kidnappers from reaching another island in the southwest known to house militant strongholds.

Philippine authorities signed a peace agreement with the largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in 2014, but continue to battle smaller groups in the south.

The region where Samal is located has been largely peaceful in recent years. The last related incident on Samal took place in 2001 when Islamist separatist group Abu Sayyaf attempted to kidnap tourists at another resort.

The group is holding a number of foreign hostages in various remote camps.

Venezuela-Colombia Border to Reopen After Ecuador Talks

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela-Colombia Border to Reopen After Ecuador Talks

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and his Colombian counterpart, Juan Manuel Santos, have agreed to gradually reopen their common border after talks in Ecuador.

Venezuela closed the Colombian border a month ago and launched a major anti-smuggling operation.

Nicolas Maduro says smuggling has led to shortages in parts of Venezuela.

Meeting in Ecuador, Nicolas Maduro and Juan Manuel Santos also said they would return ambassadors to each other’s capitals immediately.

Some 20,000 Colombians have left Venezuela since the crisis began.

More than 1,500 of them were evicted due to alleged connections with criminal gangs operating in the area.Venezuela Colombia border dispute

Most of the others fled in fear, many carrying their personal belongings over the border rivers.

“Common sense, dialogue and peace between our peoples and our countries have triumphed today,” said Nicolas Maduro after the talks in Quito.

For his part, Juan Manuel Santos said Venezuela “should have respected the rights of Colombians” who had to leave the country and return over the border.

The Colombian leader added: “I agree that criminal organizations working in the border area is a big problem, but the best way to deal with it is by working together.”

Most crossings were closed and some 3,000 Venezuelan troops have been deployed along the border since Nicolas Maduro launched a major anti-smuggling operation 19 August.

For many years, heavily subsidized items from Venezuela, including cheap petrol, have been sold at huge profit over the border in Colombia.

Nicolas Maduro says smuggling has led to shortages in the west of Venezuela and other parts of the country.

The talks on September 21 were facilitated by Uruguayan President Tabare Vasquez and his Ecuadorean counterpart, Rafael Correa.

The summit was preceded by two meetings between the Colombian and the Venezuelan foreign ministers.

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