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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.

Stewart Parnell Jailed for 28 Years over Salmonella Outbreak

Clyde K. Valle
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Stewart Parnell Jailed for 28 Years over Salmonella Outbreak

Ex-peanut company executive Stewart Parnell has been jailed for 28 years for his role in a national salmonella outbreak linked to nine deaths.

Stewart Parnell, 61, the ex-owner of the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), was convicted in 2014 of knowingly shipping tainted products.

His brother Michael, who worked as a food broker, was given 20 years.

The outbreak made hundreds ill and prompted one of the largest food recalls in US history.Stewart Parnell jailed over salmonella outbreak

Stewart and Michael Parnell were charged after investigators traced the outbreak to the company’s plant in Blakely, Georgia in 2009.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said those who died had eaten tainted peanut butter, but could not say for certain that salmonella caused the deaths.

Inspectors found a leaky roof, cockroaches, and evidence of rats at the plant.

Prosecutors accused managers of creating fake certificates saying the food was safe when it either had not been tested or had been found to be contaminated.

“These acts were driven simply by the desire to profit,” Judge Louis Sands said.

“This is commonly and accurately referred to as greed.”

A former quality control manager at the plant, Mary Wilkerson, was also sentenced to 5 years in prison.

During the trial, Stewart Parnell apologized and asked for forgiveness, saying: “I am personally embarrassed, humiliated and morally disgraced by what happened.”

Symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, headaches, stomach cramps and fever, with infants and the elderly particularly at risk of developing a serious infection.

Hillary Clinton to Unveil Plan to Lower Prescription Drug Prices

Diane A. Wade
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Hillary Clinton to Unveil Plan to Lower Prescription Drug Prices

Democrat presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton will unveil a plan to rein in prescription drug costs by forcing pharmaceutical companies to reinvest their profits into research and allowing for more generic and imported drugs.

The proposal, which Hillary Clinton will outline in a speech in Iowa on September 22, would also allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug costs and cap out-of-pocket expenses, according to details of the plan sent out by her campaign team.

The plan seeks to address a key shortcoming of ObamaCare, President Barack Obama’s signature health law, as Hillary Clinton aims to show how she would put her imprint on it.Hillary Clinton prescription drug plan

On September 21, Hillary Clinton sent out a tweet referencing a New York Times article about Daraprim, a drug to treat toxoplasmosis that increased in price overnight from $13.50 to $750 per tablet.

“Price gouging like this in the specialty drug market is outrageous. Tomorrow I’ll lay out a plan to take it on,” Hillary Clinton said.

US pharmaceuticals companies charge Americans thousands of dollars for new drugs that are often priced lower in other developed nations while receiving billions of taxpayer dollars for basic research, according to the campaign.

The prescription drug plan is part of a broader focus on health care this week.

On September 23, Hillary Clinton will outline a separate set of proposals to address other out-of-pocket health costs that patients face.

According to the campaign, Hillary Clinton’s plan will propose to:

  • Deny tax breaks for consumer advertising and demand that drug companies instead invest US taxpayer dollars in research and development. Many companies benefit from corporate write-offs for advertising aimed specifically at consumers. Companies that receive federal funds would be required to reinvest a certain amount in research.
  • Encourage the production of generic drugs including lowering the amount of time companies can exclusively produce new treatments.
  • Cap what insurers can charge consumers with chronic or serious health conditions in out-of-pocket costs. Health insurance plans would place a monthly limit of $250 on out-of-pocket costs for such patients.
  • Allow Americans to import drugs from abroad. Countries in Europe with similar safety standards often pay half of what American pay for the same drugs, according to the campaign.
  • Allow Medicare to negotiate drug and biologic prices, especially for high-cost drugs with limited competition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uReLJ9GqHCk

Turing CEO Martin Shkreli Defends Decision to Raise Daraprim Price by 5,000%

Kathryn R. Bown
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Turing CEO Martin Shkreli Defends Decision to Raise Daraprim Price by 5,000%

Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli has defended his company’s decision to raise the price of 62-year-old medication used by AIDS patients, Daraprim, by over 5,000%.

The company acquired the rights to Daraprim in August.

Martin Shkreli has said that Turing will use the money it makes from sales to research new treatments.

Daraprim is used treat toxoplasmosis, a parasitic affliction that affects people with compromised immune systems.

After Turing’s acquisition, a dose of Daraprim in the US increased from $13.50 to $750.Turing Pharmaceuticals and Daraprim price

The pill costs about $1 to produce, but Martin Shkreli, a former hedge fund manager, said that does not include other costs like marketing and distribution.

“We needed to turn a profit on this drug,” Martin Shkreli told Bloomberg TV.

“The companies before us were just giving it away almost.”

On Twitter, Martin Shkreli mocked several users who questioned the company’s decision, calling one reporter “a moron”.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America, the HIV Medicine Association and other health care providers wrote an open letter to Turning, urging the company to reconsider.

“This cost is unjustifiable for the medically vulnerable patient population in need of this medication and unsustainable for the health care system,” the groups wrote.

Dr. Wendy Armstrong of HIV Medicine Association also disputed the need to develop new treatments for toxoplasmosis.

“This is not an infection where we have been looking for more effective drugs,” she told Infectious Disease News.

On Wall Street, Turing shares fell sharply on September 21 after Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton pledged to take action against firms hiking prices for specialty drugs.

“Price gouging like this in the specialty drug market is outrageous,” Hillary Clinton said, citing Daraprim.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0P4r9fcy1o

Refugee Crisis: Hungary PM Viktor Orban Says Europe’s Borders Are Threatened by Migration

Diane A. Wade
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Refugee Crisis: Hungary PM Viktor Orban Says Europe’s Borders Are Threatened by Migration

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban has said Europe’s borders are threatened by migration, at the start of a week of intense diplomatic activity on the crisis.

Viktor Orban said refugees were “breaking the doors” and that a united stance was required.

Ministers from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia met to discuss an EU proposal for quotas, which they oppose.

Some EU countries want refugees shared out more evenly across the EU.Hungary refugee crisis 2015

Germany and France are among those who back plans to share the burden of relocating 120,000 migrants from Greece, Italy and Hungary.

“They are over-running us,” said Viktor Orban, shortly before Hungary’s parliament agreed to hand more powers to the army.

“They’re not just banging on the door, they’re breaking the doors down on top of us. Our borders are under threat. Hungary is under threat and so is the whole of Europe.”

The new law allows Hungary’s army to use rubber bullets, tear gas and net guns to control migrants at its border.

Police would also now be allowed to enter private homes to search for people they believed had entered Hungary illegally, the AFP reported.

Viktor Orban, whose stance on immigration has drawn heavy criticism from European colleagues, made the comments at the start of a week of critical talks.

VW Emissions Scandal: CEO Martin Winterkorn to Support German Transport Ministry Investigation

Clyde K. Valle
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VW Emissions Scandal: CEO Martin Winterkorn to Support German Transport Ministry Investigation

Volkswagen will “support” the German transport ministry’s investigation into the automaker’s emissions scandal, CEO Martin Winterkorn has said.

VW shares plunged more than 18% on September 21 after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that some of its cars could manipulate official emissions tests.

The EPA found that software in several diesel cars could deceive regulators.

VW 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.

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

Martin Winterkorn apologized after the scandal emerged.VW emissions scandal Martin Winterkorn

“I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public,” he said.

He has launched an investigation into the software that allowed VW cars to emit less during tests than they would while driving normally.

The EPA found the “defeat device” 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 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.

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

“We do not and will not tolerate violations of any kind of our internal rules or of the law,” Martin Winterkorn said.

The scandal comes five months after former VW chairman Ferdinand Piech left the company following disagreements with Martin Winterkorn.

“This disaster is beyond all expectations,” Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, head of the Centre of Automotive Research at the University of Duisburg-Essen, said.

The VW board is due to meet on September 25 to decide whether to renew Martin Winterkorn’s contract until 2018, and some analysts speculated he may be on his way out.

VW had been promoting its diesel cars in the US as being better for the environment.

Class action law firm Hagens Berman is launching a suit against VW on behalf of people who bought the relevant cars.

“While Volkswagen tells consumers that its diesel cars meet California emissions standards, vehicle owners are duped into paying for vehicles that do not meet this standard and unknowingly pay more for quality they never receive,” Hagens Berman alleged.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dLQW20EemQ

Ben Carson Under Fire After Islam Remarks

Diane A. Wade
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Ben Carson Under Fire After Islam Remarks

Muslim-American groups and others are calling for Ben Carson to quit the 2016 race after the Republican presidential hopeful said a Muslim should not be president.

The groups have said these views make him unqualified to run himself.

Dr. Ben Carson, a Christian, made the comments on September 20, adding that Islam was inconsistent with the Constitution.

Another Republican presidential candidate, Bobby Jindal, said on September 21 a Muslim president should swear on a Bible to uphold the Constitution.

Bobby Jindal said a Muslim Republican who fought to protect religious liberty, respected the Judeo-Christian heritage of the US and was committed to destroying Islamic State and radical Islam, and condemned cultures that treated women as second class citizens would get his vote.

But they must “place their hand on the Bible and swear to uphold the Constitution”, he added.

Photo Flickr
Photo Flickr

The Republican candidates for president are being asked about their views on Islam since Donald Trump failed last week to correct a supporter who said President Barack Obama was a Muslim.

Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner, has since said he would have no problem appointing a Muslim to his cabinet.

In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Ben Carson said the president’s faith matters if it differs with the values of America.

“I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation,” he said.

Ben Carson elaborated later when he told The Hill: “Muslims feel that their religion is very much a part of your public life and what you do as a public official, and that’s inconsistent with our principles and our Constitution.”

Democrats immediately denounced his remarks and Muslim groups called on Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon who is riding high in the polls among Republican voters, to quit the race.

“To me this really means he is not qualified to be president of the United States,” said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

Ibrahim Hooper noted that the US Constitution specifically does not require the president to have a certain religion.

Farhana Khera of Muslim Advocates said the “religious bigotry” was heard when JFK was hoping to be the first Catholic president.

Haroon Moghul, a leading commentator on Islam, told CNN: “I think Carson’s comments mean he should get out of the race.”

One of the latest polls, run by CNN/ORC, shows Ben Carson has slipped into third place in the Republican race, trailing former Hewlett-Packard chief Carly Fiorina and Donald Trump, who has consistently remained ahead of the pack.

Senior Republicans had said after the 2012 election that if the party did not become more inclusive, it would continue to push away young voters.

Kim Dotcom’s Extradition Hearing Begins in New Zealand

Nancy Clayson
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Kim Dotcom’s Extradition Hearing Begins in New Zealand

Kim Dotcom’s extradition hearing has begun in Auckland, New Zealand.

The US is seeking to extradite the German-born internet entrepreneur, and three of his colleagues, for alleged copyright infringement, racketeering and money laundering.

In 2012, New Zealand’s authorities raided Kim Dotcom’s Auckland home and shut down his site Megaupload.

Megaupload once had millions of users storing files and downloading movies and songs.Kim Dotcom extradition hearing

US authorities say Kim Dotcom and the other executives cost film studios and record companies more than $500 million and generated $175 million by allowing users to store and share copyright material.

In order to trigger an extradition treaty between the US and New Zealand, the prosecution must prove that a crime was committed in both countries.

The hearing, to which Kim Dotcom brought his own chair for ergonomic reasons, is expected to last weeks.

“This case is not just about me. This case is about how much control we allow US corporations and the US government to have over the Internet,” Kim Dotcom said on Twitter before proceedings began.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE8vOVqxNwY

China Stock Market Trades Higher as Rest of Asia Falls

Clyde K. Valle
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China Stock Market Trades Higher as Rest of Asia Falls

China stock market was the lone winner in Asia on September 21 as the rest of the region headed lower on lingering worries about weaker global growth.

The Shanghai Composite ended up 1.9% to 3,156.54 despite the Federal Reserve’s decision to hold off raising interest rates last week, in part due to a slowing Chinese economy.

Chinese shares in small-cap companies rebounded strongly, making up for recent losses.China stock market trades higher

Meanwhile Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed down 0.8% to 21,756.93 points.

Trading was also lighter than usual with the region’s biggest market, Japan, closed until September 23 for public holidays.

In the meantime, investors are looking ahead to flash manufacturing activity readings from China and the euro zone on Wednesday for an indication on where the global economy is heading.

In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closed down 2% to 5,066.2 – leading the region’s losses.

South Korea’s Kospi finished down 1.6% to 1,964.68 after hitting a five and a half week high in the previous session.

The benchmark index also ended a four-day winning streak.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYE3ol9ckRM

Volkswagen Apologizes for Falsifying Emissions Data

Clyde K. Valle
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Volkswagen Apologizes for Falsifying Emissions Data

Volkswagen has apologized after US regulators found some of its cars disguised pollution levels.

VW CEO Martin Winterkorn said: “I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public.”

He has launched an investigation into the device that allowed VW cars to emit less during tests than they would while driving normally.

The German automaker’s shares were down 19% in Frankfurt by lunchtime.

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

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found the “defeat device” in diesel cars including the Audi A3, VW Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Passat models.

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.

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.Volkswagen emissions data

That would be a considerable amount, even for the company that recently overtook Toyota to be the world’s top-selling vehicle maker in the first six months of the year. Its stock market value is about €66 billion ($75 billion).

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

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

“We do not and will not tolerate violations of any kind of our internal rules or of the law,” Martin Winterkorn said.

The German government said on September 21 it would rely on the US authorities to assess whether VW had done anything wrong in Europe.

“We expect the car companies to pass on reliable information so that the Federal Motor Transport Authority, the responsible authority in this case, can investigate whether similar manipulations took place with the emissions systems in Germany and Europe,” a spokesman for the German environment ministry said.

The scandal comes five months after former chairman Ferdinand Piech left Volkswagen following disagreements with Martin Winterkorn.

The VW board is due to meet on September 25 to decide whether to renew the chief executive’s contract until 2018.

“This disaster is beyond all expectations,” Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, head of the Center of Automotive Research at the University of Duisburg-Essen, said.

VW had been promoting its diesel cars in the US as being better for the environment.

The US law firm Hagens Berman is launching a class-action suit against VW on behalf of people who bought the relevant cars.

The models cited by Hagens Berman are the diesel versions in the US of:

  • Jetta (2009 – 2015)
  • Beetle (2009 – 2015)
  • Audi A3 (2009 – 2015)
  • Golf (2009 – 2015)
  • Passat (2014 – 2015)

“While Volkswagen tells consumers that its diesel cars meet California emissions standards, vehicle owners are duped into paying for vehicles that do not meet this standard and unknowingly pay more for quality they never receive,” Hagens Berman alleged.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UULCILU8le8

China: Apple’s App Store Hit by XcodeGhost Malware

Nancy Clayson
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China: Apple’s App Store Hit by XcodeGhost Malware

Apple has announced it is removing a malicious code added to a number of apps commonly used on iPhones and iPads in China.

It is thought to be the first large-scale attack on Apple’s App Store.

The hackers had created a counterfeit version of Apple’s software for building iOS apps, which it persuaded developers to download.

Apps compiled using the software could steal data about the users and send it to servers controlled by the hackers.

In addition, the attackers could send fake alerts to infected devices to trick their owners into revealing passwords and other information.China Apple's App Store Hit by XcodeGhost Malware

The infected applications include Tencent’s hugely popular WeChat app, a music downloading app and an Uber-like car hailing app.

Some of the affected apps – including the business card scanner CamCard – are also available outside China.

An Apple spokeswoman said apps created using the counterfeit software, XcodeGhost, had now been removed from the App Store.

“We are working with the developers to make sure they’re using the proper version of Xcode to rebuild their apps,” said Christine Monaghan.

On its official WeChat blog, Tencent said the security issue affects an older version of the app – WeChat 6.2.5 and the newest versions were not impacted.

It added that an initial investigation showed that no data theft or leakage of user information had occurred.

Potentially hundreds of millions of users were impacted by the infected apps, experts say.

Earlier this month, login names and passwords for more than 225,000 Apple accounts were stolen by cyber-thieves in China.

The majority of people affected were in China.

Emmys 2015: Game of Thrones Becomes First Show to Win Most Emmy Awards in One Night

Sonia Pantiss
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Emmys 2015: Game of Thrones Becomes First Show to Win Most Emmy Awards in One Night

Game of Thrones has become the first show to win the most Emmy awards in one night after Sunday’s ceremony held in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Viola Davis has become the first black woman to win the outstanding lead actress in a drama award for her role in How To Get Away With Murder.

The 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards honored the best in US prime time TV programming from June 1, 2014 until May 31, 2015, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Game of Thrones won best drama series and 11 other prizes.

Jon Hamm finally won a best actor award for his role as Don Draper in Mad Men – after seven years of missing out.

Political comedy Veep was the winner in the best comedy series category.

Photo EPA
Photo EPA

Inside Amy Schumer was named best variety sketch series.

It was the first time since it began 2011 that Game of Thrones won the best drama series award. Its other accolades included best writing, best direction and best supporting actor for Peter Dinklage, who plays Tyrion Lannister.

Amazon’s comedy-drama Transparent won awards for best director in a comedy and for its lead actor, Jeffrey Tambor, who plays a transgender college professor.

The show also picked up best guest actor in a comedy for Bradley Whitford.

Viola Davis won her Emmy for lead actress in a drama for her role as a tough criminal defense lawyer in ABC’s How to Get Away With Murder.

Accepting her award, Viola Davis said: “The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity.”

Jon Hamm, who played Don Draper in the drama Mad Men, set in an advertising agency primarily in the 1960s, said: “It’s incredible and impossible for me personally to be standing here.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus won best comedy actress for the fourth time for playing Selina Meyer on Veep, while Tony Hale, who plays her bag man, was again named best comedy supporting actor.

Veep, which is set in the office of the fictional vice-president and subsequent president of the US, Selina Meyer, also won the comedy writing award and best supporting actor in a comedy (Tony Hale).

Uzo Aduba, who plays Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren in Netflix prison series Orange is the New Black, was named best supporting actress in a drama.

The TV Academy awarded only four prizes to the main US broadcast networks. But while the pre-awards talk had revolved around streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon, it was cable channel HBO that swept the board, with shows like Veep, Game of Thrones and Olive Kitteridge performing well.

Olive Kitteridge picked up six awards, including best mini-series, best lead actor in a mini-series or movie (Richard Jenkins), lead actress (Frances McDormand) and supporting actor (Bill Murray).

Emmys 2015: Complete List of Winners

Sonia Pantiss
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Emmys 2015: Complete List of Winners

Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series

WINNER: Allison Janney – Mom
Mayim Bialik – The Big Bang Theory
Kate McKinnon – Saturday Night Live
Gaby Hoffmann – Transparent
Jane Krakowski – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Anna Chlumsky – Veep
Niecy Nash – Getting On
Julie Bowen – Modern Family

Outstanding variety sketch series

Drunk History
WINNER: Inside Amy Schumer
Key & Peele
Portlandia
Saturday Night Live

Outstanding writing for a comedy series

David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik – Episodes
Will Forte – The Last Man on Earth
Louis CK – Louie
Alec Berg – Silicon Valley
Jill Soloway – Transparent
WINNER: Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche – Veep
David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik – Episodes

Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series

Andre Braugher – Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Adam Driver – Girls
Keegan-Michael Key – Key & Peele
Ty Burrell – Modern Family
Tituss Burgess – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
WINNER: Tony Hale – Veep

Outstanding directing in a comedy series

Phil Lord and Chirs Miller – The Last Man on Earth
Louis CK – Louie
Mike Judge – Silicon Valley
WINNER: Jill Soloway – Transparent
Armando Iannucci – Veep

Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series

Matt LeBlanc – Episodes
Don Cheadle – House of Lies
Louis CK – Louie
William H Macy – Shameless
WINNER: Jeffrey Tambor – Transparent
Anthony Anderson – Black-ish
Will Forte – Last Man on Earth

Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series

Lisa Kudrow – The Comeback
Edie Falco – Nurse Jackie
Amy Poehler – Parks and Recreation
WINNER: Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep
Amy Schumer – Inside Amy Schumer
Lily Tomlin – Grace and Frankie

Outstanding writing for a limited series, movie or dramatic special

John Ridley – American Crime
Dee Rees, Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois and Horton Foote – Bessie
Stephen Merchant, Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg – Hello Ladies: The Movie
Hugo – The Honorable Woman
WINNER: Jane Anderson – Olive Kitteridge
Peter Straughan – Wolf Hall

Outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or TV movie

WINNER: Regina King – American Crime
Sarah Paulson – American Horror Story: Freak Show
Angela Bassett – American Horror Story: Freak Show
Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Freak Show
Mo’Nique – Bessie
Zoe Kazan – Olive Kitteridge

Outstanding directing for a limited series, movie or dramatic special

Ryan Murphy – American Horror Story: Freak Show
Dee Rees – Bessie
Hugo Blick – The Honorable Woman
Uli Edel – Houdini
Tom Shankland – The Missing
WINNER: Lisa Cholodenko – Olive Kitteridge
Peter Kosminsky – Wolf Hall

Outstanding variety talk series

The Colbert Report
WINNER: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Jimmy Kimmel Live
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Late Show With David Letterman

Outstanding reality-competition program

The Amazing Race
Dancing With the Stars
Project Runway
So You Think You Can Dance
Top Chef
WINNER: The Voice

Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series

Joanne Froggatt – Downton Abbey
Lena Headey – Game of Thrones
Emilia Clarke – Game of Thrones
Christine Baranski – The Good Wife
Christina Hendricks – Mad Men
WINNER: Uzo Aduba – Orange Is The New Black

Outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or movie

Richard Cabral – American Crime
Denis O’Hare- American Horror Story
Finn Wittrock- American Horror Story: Freak Show
Michael Kenneth Williams – Bessie
WINNER: Bill Murray – Olive Kitteridge
Damian Lewis – Wolf Hall

Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series

Jonathan Banks – Better Call Saul
Ben Mendelsohn – Bloodline
Jim Carter – Downton Abbey
WINNER: Peter Dinklage – Game of Thrones
Alan Cumming – The Good Wife
Michael Kelly – House Of Cards

Outstanding lead actress in a limited series or a movie

WINNER: Frances McDormand – Olive Kitteridge
Maggie Gyllenhaal – The Honorable Woman
Queen Latifah – Bessie
Emma Thompson – Sweeney Todd: Live From Lincoln Center
Jessica Lange – American Horror Story: Freak Show
Felicity Huffman – American Crime

Outstanding lead actor in a limited series or a movie

WINNER: Richard Jenkins – Olive Kitteridge
Adrien Brody – Houdini
Mark Rylance – Wolf Hall
Timothy Hutton – American Crime
Ricky Gervais – Derek: The Final Chapter
David Oyelowo – Nightingale

Outstanding limited series

WINNER: Olive Kitteridge
American Crime
The Honorable Woman
American Horror Story: Freak Show
Wolf Hall

Outstanding writing for a drama series

Joshua Brand – The Americans
Gordon Smith – Better Call Saul
WINNER: David Benioff and DB Weiss – Game Of Thrones
Semi Chellas and Matthew Weiner – Mad Men
Matthew Weiner – Mad Men

Outstanding writing for a variety series

Opus Moreschi, Stephen Colbert, Tom Purcell, Barry Julien, Paul Dinello, Matt Lappin, Jay Katsir, Michael Brumm, Rob Dubbin, Glenn Eichler, Max Werner, Eric Drysdale, Nate Charny, Aaron Cohen, Gabe Gronli and Ariel Dumas – The Colbert Report

WINNERS: Elliott Kalan, Adam Lowitt, Steve Bodow, Jon Stewart, Dan Amira, Travon Free, Hallie Haglund, Matt Koff, Dan McCoy, Jo Miller, Zhubin Parang, Daniel Radosh, Lauren Sarver, Owen Parsons and Delaney Yeager – The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Jessi Klein, Hallie Cantor, Kim Caramele, Kyle Dunnigan, Jon Glaser, Christine Nangle, Kurt Metzger, Daniel Powell, Tami Sagher and Amy Schumer – Inside Amy Schumer

Jay Martel, Ian Roberts, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele – Key & Peele

Kevin Avery, Tim Carvell, Dan Gurewitch, Geoff Haggerty, Jeff Maurer, John Oliver, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner and Josh Gondelman – Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

Outstanding directing for a variety series

James Hoskinson – The Colbert Report
WINNER: Chuck O’Neil – The Daily Show
Amy Schumer and Ryan McFaul – Inside Amy Schumer
Jerry Foley – Late Show with David Letterman
Dave Diomedi – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Outstanding drama series

Downton Abbey
WINNER: Game of Thrones
Mad Men
House of Cards
Orange is the New Black
Homeland
Better Call Saul

Outstanding comedy series

Louie
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation
WINNER: Veep
Silicon Valley
Transparent
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Outstanding lead actor in a drama series

Kevin Spacey – House of Cards
WINNER: Jon Hamm – Mad Men
Jeff Daniels – The Newsroom
Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul
Kyle Chandler – Bloodline
Liev Schreiber – Ray Donovan

Outstanding lead actress in a drama series

Claire Danes – Homeland
WINNER: Viola Davis – How to Get Away With Murder
Taraji P Henson – Empire
Tatiana Maslany – Orphan Black
Elisabeth Moss – Mad Men
Robin Wright – House of Cards

Outstanding television movie

Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case
WINNER: Bessie
Grace of Monaco
Hello Ladies: The Movie
Killing Jesus
Nightingale

Outstanding guest actor in a drama series

WINNER: Reg E Cathey – House of Cards
Alan Alda – The Blacklist
Michael J Fox – The Good Wife
Beau Bridges – Masters of Sex
Pablo Schreiber – Orange is the New Black
F Murray Abraham – Homeland

Outstanding guest actress in a drama series

Allison Janney – Masters of Sex
Diana Rigg – Game of Thrones
WINNER: Margo Martindale – The Americans
Rachel Brosnahan – House of Cards
Cicely Tyson – How to Get Away with Murder
Khandi Alexander – ScandalEmmys 2015 winners

Outstanding guest actor in a comedy series

Louis CK – Saturday Night Live
Jon Hamm – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
WINNER: Bradley Whitford – Transparent
Bill Hader – Saturday Night Live
Mel Brooks – The Comedians
Paul Giamatti – Inside Amy Schumer

Outstanding guest actress in a comedy series

Tina Fey – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Christine Baranski – The Big Bang Theory
Gaby Hoffman – Girls
Pamela Adlon – Louie
Elizabeth Banks – Modern Family
WINNER: Joan Cusack – Shameless

Outstanding host for a reality or reality-competition program

Tom Bergeron – Dancing With the Stars
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn – Project Runway
Cat Deeley – So You Think You Can Dance
Anthony Bourdain – The Taste
WINNER: Jane Lynch – Hollywood Game Night

Outstanding unstructured reality program

Alaska: The Last Frontier
WINNER: Deadliest Catch
Intervention
Million Dollar Listing New York
Naked and Afraid
Wahlburgers

Outstanding structured reality program

Antiques Roadshow
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
MythBusters
Property Brothers
WINNER: Shark Tan
Undercover Boss

Outstanding variety special

Bill Maher: Live from DC
The Kennedy Center Honors
Louis CK: Live at the Comedy Store
Mel Brooks Live at the Geffen
WINNER: The Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek Live!

Outstanding directing for a drama series

Tim Van Patten – Boardwalk Empire
WINNER: David Nutter – Game of Thrones
Jeremy Podeswa – Game of Thrones
Lesli Linka Glatter – Homeland
Steven Soderbergh – The Knick

Outstanding directing for a variety special

Natalie Johns – Annie Lennox: Nostalgia Live in Concert
Louis J Horvitz – The Kennedy Center Honors
Hamish Hamilton – The Oscars
WINNER: Don Roy King – The Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special
Glenn Weiss – 68th Annual Tony Awards

Outstanding writing for a variety special

Barry Adelman, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Jon Macks, Dave Boone, Alex Baze, Robert Carlock, Sam Means, Seth Meyers, Michael Shoemaker, Eric Gurian and Meredith Scardino– The 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards
Brendan Hunt, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele and Rich Talarico – Key & Peele Super Bowl Special
Mel Brooks – Mel Brooks Live At The Geffen
WINNER: Louis CK – Louis CK: Live At The Comedy Store
James Anderson, Fred Armisen, Tina Fey, Steve Higgins, Chris Kelly, Erik Kenward, Rob Klein, Seth Meyers, Lorne Michaels, John Mulaney, Paula Pell, Jeff Richmond, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Tom Schiller, Sarah Schnieder, Marc Shaiman, Michael Shoemaker, Robert Smigel, Emily Spivey, Kent Sublette, Jorma Taccone and Bryan Tucker – The Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special

Outstanding documentary or nonfiction special

The Case Against 8
WINNER: Going Clear: Scientology And The Prison Of Belief
Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck
Sinatra: All Or Nothing At All
Virunga

Outstanding documentary or nonfiction series

American Masters
Cancer: The Emperor Of All Maladies
WINNER: The Jinx: The Life And Deaths Of Robert Durst
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History
The Sixties

Outstanding informational series or special

WINNER: Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown
Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways
Inside The Actors Studio
StarTalk With Neil deGrasse Tyson
Vice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXcT213XYlA

Jake Brewer: White House Senior Advisor Killed in Bike Accident

Nancy Clayson
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0
Jake Brewer: White House Senior Advisor Killed in Bike Accident

A senior White House staffer, Jake Brewer, has been killed on a charity bike ride.

Jake Brewer, 34, died while taking part in the 150-mile Ride to Conquer Cancer event on September 19.

The senior policy advisor in the chief technology office lost control of his bike and was hit by a vehicle.

President Barack Obama has said he is “heartbroken”, adding: “Jake devoted his life to empowering people and making government work better for them.”

Photo White House
Photo White House

He said Jake Brewer had “a brilliant mind, a big heart, and an insatiable desire to give back”.

“He worked to give citizens a louder voice in our society. He engaged our striving immigrants. He pushed for more transparency in our democracy. And he sought to expand opportunity for all.

“I’ve often said that today’s younger generation is smarter, more determined, and more capable of making a difference than I was as a young man. Jake was proof of that.”

Jake Brewer, from Alexandria, Virginia, reportedly lost control of his bike on a sharp curve in Howard County, Maryland.

His wife, journalist Mary Katharine Ham, posted the news of the death on Instagram.

“I will miss him forever, even more than I can know right now,” she wrote.

President Barack Obama said he and the First Lady would be praying for the Brewer family, adding: “They’ll always have a family here at the White House.”

Top 10 Reasons to Try An eBook Today

Ricky Robinson
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Top 10 Reasons to Try An eBook Today

If you’ve not taken the plunge into the world of eBooks, there’s probably a lot of reasons why. Maybe you prefer the feel of physical books, and no one can deny how good a full bookshelf looks in your sitting room. However, maybe now you’ve been thinking about checking them out and catching up with current technology.

If you’re looking for reasons why you should make the switch, look no further. Below are the top reasons why eBooks are the future of publishing.

  1. There’s thousands to choose from: Whichever store you choose to buy from, you’ll find thousands of titles right at your finger tips. Whether you’re looking for the latest blockbuster or a classic title, they’ll be right there and always available for purchase. You can be reading any title in a matter of minutes. Nook lists the bestselling eBooks in its dedicated online store, so it’s a great place to get started.

 

  1. It’s easy to download a book: No matter what device you use to read, it’s so simple to find and download any title you want. Simply search for the book you want, or browse through the store. Once you find the one you want, click ‘buy’ and the title will be downloaded to your device. It really is as easy as that.

 

  1. There’s multiple ways to read: If there’s a device you like to use, there’s probably a way to read eBooks on it. You can buy a dedicated e-reader, or download the app on your smartphone or tablet. EBook Friendly notes that if you currently own a device that you feel you aren’t using to its full advantage, using it to read eBooks could be the answer.

 

  1. There’s a wealth of free books available: Browsing through an eBook store, you’ll find that many classic titles are being offered for free. If you’ve always wanted to read the works of Charles Dickens or Jane Austen, now’s your chance. There’s also often free books being offered by new and emerging authors, so if you want to try something new, it simply couldn’t be easier or cheaper to do so.

 Top 10 Reasons to Try An eBook Today

  1. Carry your whole collection in your pocket: EPublisher’s Weekly states that eBooks are hugely portable. An entire library’s worth of files could be held on just one DVD or USB drive. If you like to have a few books on you at all times, then eBooks are a much easier way of doing so. It’s also easier on your bag and your shoulders.

 

  1. They’re great for students: High school and college students will know the pain of lugging around large textbooks every day, as well as the pain of paying for them. EBooks solve the problem by being cheaper to buy and much more portable. As a bonus, students can use their e-reader to highlight passages or make notes on their texts, making assignments a breeze. If you know a student just entering the academic year, an e-reader could be a gratefully received gift.

 

  1. Change your preferences on the fly: If you struggle to read small text in regular books, or read text against the traditional white background, eBooks could be the answer. You can change text size or color to suit your needs, making reading much easier with little effort.

 

  1. They’re good for the environment: You probably hadn’t considered this, but eBooks are much better for the environment than physical books. Success Net states that eBooks basically eliminate the need for trees to be felled for books, saving whole forests in one fell swoop.

 

  1. They take up much less space: As mentioned earlier, it can be satisfying to decorate your home with shelves full of well thumbed books. However, not everyone has the luxury of space to display their favorite tomes. Until you win the lottery and buy the country manor of your dreams, store all your books on one small device, and save that space for the essentials.

 

  1. E-readers are designed for ultimate readability: If you buy a dedicated e-reader, you may not notice straight away but they’re designed very cleverly to be the ultimate reading machine. Snarky Nomad lists ten design features that help the reader out, including the lack of page curvature, the ability to read a book one handed, and the inclusion of a dictionary to look up unfamiliar words. You probably didn’t even know you wanted these features until you had them in your hand.

If you weren’t convinced before, you probably are now. EBooks are the ultimate in portability, choice, and ease of use. When you put it like that, what are you waiting for? Take the plunge now, and discover a whole new world of fantastic literature from the comfort of your own home.

Greece Snap Election Results: Alexis Tsipras Celebrates Syriza Victory

Diane A. Wade
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0
Greece Snap Election Results: Alexis Tsipras Celebrates Syriza Victory

Greece former PM Alexis Tsipras has hailed a “victory of the people” after his left-wing Syriza party won the country’s snap election.

Alexis Tsipras said Greeks faced a difficult road and that recovery from financial crisis would only come through hard work.

The conservative New Democracy party earlier conceded defeat.

With 60% of votes counted, Syriza is projected to be just short of a majority but the Independent Greeks have agreed to join a coalition.

The latest figures give Syriza 35% of the vote, compared with New Democracy’s 28%. The far-right Golden Dawn is set to be the third biggest party, with 7.1% of the vote.

Photo AP
Photo AP

The snap election, the fifth in six years, was called after Syriza lost its majority in August. This followed the signing of an unpopular new financial bailout deal with international creditors.

Turnout in this poll was just over 55%, down from 63% in January and low by Greek standards.

Alexis Tsipras said his decision to call an early election was vindicated and that he had been given a clear mandate.

The former prime minister told thousands of jubilant supporters in central Athens: “In Europe today, Greece and the Greek people are synonymous with resistance and dignity, and this struggle will be continued together for another four years.

“We have difficulties ahead, but we are also on firm ground. We won’t recover from the struggle by magic, but it can happen with hard work.”

Alexis Tsipras was joined on stage by Panos Kammenos, leader of the nationalist Independent Greeks, who also entered a coalition with Syriza after the previous election in January.

“Together we will continue the struggle we began seven months ago,” Alexis Tsipras said.

New Democracy leader Vangelis Meimarakis earlier conceded defeat to Alexis Tsipras, saying: “I congratulate him and urge him to create the government which is needed.”

The latest projection gives Syriza 145 seats in the 300-seat parliament, with New Democracy on 75. This is only four fewer than Alexis Tsipras’s thumping victory in January, but again leaves him just short of an absolute majority.

The Independent Greeks are likely to get 10 seats.

Eiffel Tower Closed Due to Terror Suspect

Roy Siemens
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Eiffel Tower Closed Due to Terror Suspect

Eiffel Tower was closed after a man carrying a backpack was seen scaling the tower.

The alarm was raised early on Sunday, September 20, and the area was evacuated while anti-terror police carried out a search.

Police said they were unable to find the man. France’s iconic landmark, one of the world’s most visited attractions, reopened in the afternoon, after officials carried out a search but found nothing.

Photo AFP
Photo AFP

France is on high alert following a series of terror attacks this year.

The Eiffel Tower, which receives as many as 30,000 daily visitors, has been the target of plots by Islamist extremists in the past.

However, police said there may be another explanation for today’s security breach – the man may have been a parachutist hoping to perform a jump.

Pope Francis Celebrates Havana Mass and Meets Fidel Castro

Diane A. Wade
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0
Pope Francis Celebrates Havana Mass and Meets Fidel Castro

Tens of thousands of people have attended a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in the Cuban capital Havana on his first visit to the Communist-ruled island.

Cuba’s President Raul Castro, not a practicing Catholic, attended the event Havana’s iconic Revolution Square.

Later Pope Francis also met the president’s brother and predecessor, Fidel Castro.

Pope Francis, who is at the start of his Cuba and US trip, has been credited with helping the recent thaw in diplomatic ties between both countries.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

After his arrival on September 19, the pontiff hailed improving ties between Cuba and the US as “an example of reconciliation for the whole world”.

Pope Francis also urged both Cuba and the US to “persevere on the path” of detente.

Security services were seen arresting at least three people who were shouting and attempting to distribute flyers at the edge of Revolution Square as the Mass got under way.

On his way to the service Pope Francis stopped to greet some of the thousands who had come out to see him.

During his homily the Pope said that “Christians are constantly called to set aside their own wishes and desires, their pursuit of power, and to look instead to those who are most vulnerable”.

After the Mass, Pope Francis met Fidel Castro at his house in Havana for about 30 minutes.

According to the Vatican, Pope Francis and Fidel Castro exchanged books as gifts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3QJZzVoSqc

Beatles’ First Signed Contract Fetches $75,000 at New York Auction

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Beatles’ First Signed Contract Fetches $75,000 at New York Auction

The Beatles’ first record contract has fetched $75,000 at a New York auction.

The 1961 contract resulted in the single My Bonnie, a rock-and-roll version of a children’s song.

It was released under the band name Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers, but caught the attention of Brian Epstein, who became the band’s manager.

The six-page contract was sold by the estate of German Beatles collector Uwe Blaschke, who died in 2010.Beatles first recording contract 1961

In the early 1960s The Beatles regularly performed at nightclubs in the German city of Hamburg, where the contract was signed. The band had been backing British singer Tony Sheridan at Hamburg’s Top Ten Club at the time.

The contract includes the signatures of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and drummer Pete Best, who was later replaced by Ringo Starr.

“Had they not spent this time in Hamburg, they may have not become the musical force that they did,” said Dean Harmeyer, consignment director at Heritage Auctions, which sold the contract.

“Had they not recorded My Bonnie they may have never come to the attention of Brian Epstein.”

My Bonnie was released only in Germany.

In 1962, with Brian Epstein as their manager, The Beatles recorded Love Me Do, their first hit single under their name.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2UaFoIzj1I

Refugee Crisis: At Least 10,000 People Arrive in Austria amid EU Tensions

Diane A. Wade
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0
Refugee Crisis: At Least 10,000 People Arrive in Austria amid EU Tensions

At least 10,000 refugees have arrived in Austria on September 19, amid bitter rows among EU nations on how to handle the growing crisis.

The refugees had been sent from Croatia into Hungary, which in turn shipped them on to Austria.

Hungary accused Croatia of breaking the rules by failing to register the refugees.

Meanwhile, 26 refugees are missing after their boat sank off Greece.

Coastguards managed to rescue 20 people but were told the boat had been carrying 46 people when it sank off the Greek island of Lesbos.Refugees enter Austria 2015

Separately, a search is continuing for 13 people still missing after their boat sank in the same waters on September 19, killing a five-year-old girl.

On the same day, Austrian police said they were expecting at least 10,000 arrivals, while the head of the Austrian Red Cross, Gerry Foitik, later told Austria Presse Agentur (APA) that between 12,000 to 13,000 people had entered the country over the course of the day.

The deputy police chief of Austria’s Burgenland state, Christian Stella, told APA that Hungary had not given enough warning.

Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner accused neighboring countries of failing to follow EU rules, expressing concern that migrants were also arriving from Croatia via Slovenia.

One refugee, who crossed into the Austrian town of Heiligenkreuz from Hungary, told the Associated Press: “I feel like I’ve been born anew. It makes no difference whether I am delayed, whether I stay here two days. The important thing is that I’ve finally arrived and that I am now finally safe.”

Croatia has seen 20,000 refugees entering from Serbia since September 16 and, after initially welcoming them, said it was unable to cope and moved them on.

PM Zoran Milanovic admitted there was no agreement with Hungary.

“We forced them, by sending people up there. And we’ll keep doing it,” he said.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto branded Zoran Milanovic “pathetic”, adding: “Instead of honestly making provision for the immigrants, it sent them straight to Hungary. What kind of European solidarity is this?”

The Hungarian government accused Croatia of breaching international law by failing to register refugees and said all asylum seekers would be registered in Hungary before they could leave for northern Europe.

However, a number of refugees who reached Austria via Hungary ssaid they had not been registered in Hungary either, simply driven in buses across the country and told to walk over a railway line into Austria.

While Hungary continues to transport refugees arriving from Croatia, it is building a razor-wire fence on the border that will be completed soon.

Hungary says it will then enforce the same tough laws it introduced earlier this week on its Serbian border – where there is a similar fence – making crossing it a criminal offence.

However, government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said that “at the moment” stopping the flow “seems to be impractical”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv_o8QNYheI

Greece Snap Elections 2015: Tight Race Between Syriza and New Democracy

Diane A. Wade
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0
Greece Snap Elections 2015: Tight Race Between Syriza and New Democracy

Greeks return to polls as voting has begun in the country’s snap general election.

Opinion polls indicate a tight race between the left-wing incumbent Syriza party and the conservative New Democracy.

The snap election, Greece’s fifth in six years, was called after Syriza lost its parliamentary majority in August.

Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras’s popularity plummeted after he agreed a new bailout deal with European leaders.

The bailout involved austerity measures which Syriza had vowed to oppose.

Greece is mired in a deep financial crisis and whoever wins today’s election will have to oversee further tough economic reforms.

According to analysts, whichever party wins is unlikely to get enough seats to form a government alone.

That could mean a period of political instability just as deadlines loom for the implementation of a series of key financial reforms.

Former PM Alexis Tsipras said Greeks would elect “a fighting government” that will “move on with necessary reforms and break with the old regime”, as he cast his ballot on Sunday morning in the Athens district of Kypseli.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Alexis Tsipras signed the bailout deal shortly after a referendum in which more than 60% of voters rejected the austerity measures creditors wanted to impose.

In interviews leading up to the election, Alexis Tsipras Tsipras said he had put his country above his party. He said that had he not agreed to the three-year bailout, Greece would probably have had to leave the eurozone.

He told Antenna TV on September 18 he would “tug the rope” to try to win relief on Greece’s huge national debt from EU creditors.

His main rival, New Democracy leader Vangelis Meimarakis, has dismissed Alexis Tsipras’s term in office as “an experiment that cost [the country] dearly”.

“I fear that if Syriza is elected… the country will soon be led to elections again, and this would be disastrous,” he said.

Commentators say there is also a tight race for third place between the socialist Pasok party and the far-right Golden Dawn.

Analysts have said the migrant crisis on Greece’s doorstep may boost support for Golden Dawn, which is strongly opposed to immigration.

Polls close at 19:00 local time, with the first projected results expected two hours later.

Nearly 10 million Greeks have registered to vote.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXtJubZR6u4

Nepal’s Controversial Constitution to Be Adopted

Diane A. Wade
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0
Nepal’s Controversial Constitution to Be Adopted

Nepal’s legislators are due to adopt the country’s new constitution, drawn up after years of political wrangling.

The new constitution will be unveiled with a grand ceremony in Kathmandu on September 20.

The controversial constitution will see the Himalayan nation become a secular, federal republic with seven states.

However, it has been opposed by some groups who want Nepal to be a Hindu nation. Minority ethnic groups also fear it will create discrimination.

Protests organized by the Tharu and Madhesi ethnic groups in the south have disrupted parts of Nepal for weeks.Nepal controversial constitution 2015

At least 40 people have been killed in the unrest.

The Nepalese authorities have imposed a curfew and deployed security forces but the protests have delayed road transport to the capital, Kathmandu.

“The constitution that will be promulgated is the outcome of many years of struggle by the Nepali people,” Prateek Pradhan, media adviser to PM Sushil Koirala, told Reuters.

“It addresses the aspirations and demands of all sections of Nepali society in an inclusive and representative manner.”

The demand for the new constitution was raised by Maoists rebels whose 10-year civil war ended with a peace deal in 2006.

In 2008, the Maoists won elections to a constituent assembly, leading to the abolition of the 240-year-old monarchy. But amid squabbling, the assembly failed to draw up a new constitution.

Nepal, which has a population of 28 million, is still recovering from the devastating earthquake in April that killed thousands.

Pope Francis Calls for Cuba Church Freedom

James J. Williams
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0
Pope Francis Calls for Cuba Church Freedom

In his first speech after his arrival in Cuba, Pope Francis has called for the Church in the communist island to have “the freedom and the means” to pursue its mission.

Pope Francis also hailed improving ties between the US and Cuba as “an example of reconciliation for the whole world”.

The pontiff was greeted by Cuban President Raul Castro after landing in the capital, Havana.

He is due to celebrate Mass on September 20 in Havana’s iconic Revolution Square.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Pope Francis will spend four days in Cuba before flying to the US.

Following his arrival on Cuba on September 19, thousands lined the route of the Pope’s motorcade to the home of the Vatican’s ambassador to Cuba.

Pope Francis – the first pontiff to hail from Latin America – is credited with helping the recent thaw in diplomatic relations between Cuba and the US.

President Raul Castro has thanked Pope Francis for his contribution.

Speaking at the airport alongside Raul Castro, Pope Francis urged further support for Cuba’s Catholics “so that the Church can continue to support and encourage the Cuban people in its hopes and concerns, with the freedom, the means and the space needed to bring the proclamation of the kingdom to the existential peripheries of society”.

The Pope also called on Cuba and the US to “persevere on the path” of detente.

On September 17, the Vatican said it hoped the Pope’s visit would help bring an end to the 53-year-old US embargo and lead to more freedom and human rights in Cuba.

The following day, the US announced eased restrictions on business and travel with Cuba, the latest move by President Barack Obama to improve relations.

Pope Francis’s trip will later take him to the US, which he will also be visiting for the first time since his election to the papacy.

California Wrong-Way Driver Shot Dead from Police Helicopter

Nancy Clayson
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California Wrong-Way Driver Shot Dead from Police Helicopter

A California driver involved in a high-speed chase on I-225 was struck by gunfire from a police helicopter, officials have confirmed.

According to police, the driver had refused to pull over and had sped past stop signs and red lights.

Police opened fire when the car began heading the wrong way on a motorway. The driver was later confirmed dead.

A sheriff’s spokeswoman said shootings from helicopters were rare but deputies did train for such eventualities.California wrong way driver shot dead from helicopter

The incident began on September 18 in Devore, east of Los Angeles, when police tried to pull over a man believed to have committed a burglary.

The Chevrolet Tahoe SUV drove through residential districts at high speed, narrowly missing pedestrians, before getting on to I-215 the wrong way, a statement from the San Bernardino County sheriff’s department said.

A deputy in a helicopter giving chase opened fire, hitting the SUV several times.

The wounded driver jumped from the moving car and ran a short distance before collapsing and dying by the side of the road, the statement said.

Police say they are awaiting autopsy results to reveal whether the man died from gunshot wounds or from leaping from the vehicle.

Police spokeswoman Jodi Miller said officers decided to open fire because the driver was threatening public safety.

The driverless SUV crashed head-on into a Dodge Durango injuring three people, one of whom remains in hospital, police added.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4h88nEtd9c

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